Deep Water Cove

Like yesterday, I had loads of great pictures, Gorgeous scenics and sunsets, but again I've come back to a family shot. We're in the Bay of Islands with my parents, and it's family time. They don't get to see their grandparents a lot - so every picture counts!

Maybe with some pressure from me, we motored out to one of my favourite childhood haunts - Deep Water Cove. Wild, rugged, remote, crystal clear water and few other boats normally.

We swam, including pushing the kids off the back of the boat ;-), explored ashore, watched sunsets from the beach, and had a great BBQ on the boat. Really special times, especially for the kids as they don't do this sort of thing much, whereas it's what I did as a child.

Kind of sadly tho, many privately owned parts of the BOI are now being developed and the islands are mostly government owned. In both cases it means a restriction of what you can do - no dogs, no fires - all those thing we loved most when I was a kid. Barbecues on the beach, watching the sunset, a few drinks, then watching the starts.

Still, it remains a special place.

In this photo Dad and I are enjoying a beer on the beach. The kids are sharing a coke. They never get coke, so when they do they go slightly loopy. Hannah is very concerned Adam is taking more than his fair share ...