Beer fest at BOP Sun Club

Although not a Bay of Plenty Naturists event, members were invited to the Bay of Plenty Sun Club to join in with their Labour Weekend festivities. The weather was great when the sun was out, but the air was very cool when it disappeared behind a cloud. Still it didn’t stop many of us getting the start of a tan (some a little red tan!) and feeling the freedom of no clothes after the long winter.

On the Saturday night, we had a pot luck dinner followed by a beer tasting competition. With 13 different unlabelled beers to taste and identify, the results showed that we really don’t know a lot about beer! The winner got 2 right and I got 1½ right (the half for saying stout instead of Guinness)! The beer tasting, was followed by drinking the products (well we couldn’t waste it eh?) and then a few fun games. 

On Sunday, we lazed around in the sun then Col and I went for a bush walk taking some photos in the bush and around the creek.

That night we had a shared BBQ after happy hour then honed our quiz skills in preparation for the quiz night as part of the Phoenix Shield against Waikato Outdoor Society in a few weeks.
Another brilliant day dawned on Monday. Col and I went for a bike ride to Matata 5km away. It was a relatively easy ride to the beach, but coming back we had a head wind, so this tested our ‘not-used-much’ leg muscles. Still we made it back in time for lunch, before heading back to civilisation mid-afternoon.

A fun weekend at Pyes Pa

The weather really turned it on for our annual weekend campout in the heart of Tauranga suburbia at Pyes Pa. By Friday night, there were already a dozen people there and this number grew to over 30 for Happy Hour on Saturday night. A large group based themselves and their campervans or tents at the park for the whole weekend.

A trip to the beach on Saturday was quite a blast – from the wind I mean. I think we all got more windburn than sunburn. Many of the group ventured into the surf, which with the windy conditions actually felt warmer than the air. Several young new couples were also there trying out the naturist lifestyle. We regrouped at Pyes Pa for Happy Hour and enjoyed a communal BBQ. This led to us all sitting around the fire till the full moon came up. With such a diverse and interesting group of people, the discussion was interesting – all topics from climate change to theoretical physics to astronomy! Which way the water goes down the plughole in the Northern Hemisphere vs the Southern was another topic.

On Sunday, after a breakfast cooked by our own naked chefs, Peter took us on another walk – this year up the same stream that we went down last year. A large group of us enjoyed the walk up the creek, except for me, who fell at the first post and twisted my knee. Some walked for an hour upstream while others went some distance in between.

On Monday, a large contingent visited the Bay of Plenty Sun Club and enjoyed a day at this lovely club. The pool got well used by many of those there. Some stayed on for a BBQ and we stayed on for the night.

Mystery weekend revealed

Although most members didn't know where we were going for our mystery weekend, 26 turned up for a great weekend at the Bay of Plenty Sun Club.
The participants had to look out for clues along the way and then pick up more once they got to Matata. No-one got lost but one early bird got to Matata before the clues were put outside for pick-up.
After a sausage sizzle, 16 of us set out for a bush walk near Lake Rotoma. It was a pleasant walk along a 4WD track, with huge deep ruts, which had formed during the recent heavy rain. The circular walk took us to an old mill site amongst the Rotoma Forest.
After a communal BBQ, everyone settled in the clubhouse for some games such as Sjoelen, darts and a new card game called Saboteur, brought along by a new member of the group. Several of us had a go at this interesting game.
Next morning turned out drizzly but after a cooked breakfast, the rain didn't deter one couple from heading off to the Thornton River mouth to catch a fish. Unfortunately, the fish won that round! Other members went for a bush walk at the club grounds, while others sat around chatting until it was time to leave.
I would like to thank the BOP Sun Club for hosting the BOP Naturists for this weekend at their lovely grounds.