Saturday On Anzac Day morning sixteen of us set off from Bracken Ave to spend the long weekend at the top of the Coromandel Penninsula. Our chief aim was to walk the Coromandel Coastal Walkway, a 7 hour return walk along the eastern side of the Penninsula from Fletcher Bay to Stony Bay and back again. Our first stop on the journey was at Thames for morning tea, where the predicted rain started falling and we decided to abandon our planned 2.5 hour return walk to the Waiomu Kauri Grove, just 12 km north of Thames. Instead we headed north to Colville where we picnicked on the grassy verge next to our parked cars. Then we continued up and around the top of the Peninsula  to the Fletcher Bay Backpackers. As the weather had cleared we dropped off our gear and headed back towards Port Jackson to do the Muriwai Walk. This was a 2 hour grassy coastal track along a ridge and down to the beach at Port Jackson. Beautiful sea views all around.  Instead of completing the loop walk along the road we chose to return the way we had come. At the Backpackers the 16 of us fitted neatly into the 4 bunkrooms, divided into two groups to cook dinner and then had devotions. As it was Anzac Day we had a time of remembering family members who had been involved in, particularly, WW1. Christine shared about her great-grandmother who was the first NZ mother to travel to Turkey to visit her son’s grave at Gallipoli. We finished with the prayer of St Frances. Sunday This was a beautiful sunny day to enjoy the Coromandel Coastal Walkway. We climbed gradually up through farmland and followed an easy track along the coast giving us wide open views of the country and the sea. The steepest part of the track was walking down to Poley Bay and then the climb up again. Two hours from the start we reached the Lookout where most of us had photos taken on a large rock with amazing views behind us. From here 4 members decided to turn back to complete a 4 hour return trip. The rest of us continued through shady bush for another hour until we reached Stony Bay. Here we ate lunch on the grass and wandered through the large campground and on the beach.   Arriving back at Fletcher Bay two of our more intrepid members enjoyed a quick dip in the sea to cool off. Ian shared devotions that evening, reflecting on Isaiah 53, the foretelling of Jesus’ suffering. Monday The rain came heavily so it was decided to abandon attempting the Kauri Grove Track again and to just head home. We gathered on the deck while Jules sang us the Irish blessing and then one in Hebrew to send us on our way. After an enjoyable stop off at Coromandel township and again at Thames for lunch, we arrived back in Auckland mid-afternoon. A very enjoyable weekend which combined stunning coastal views, enjoyable walking, good weather on the day that counted, comfortable accommodation and great company. COST:  $100-50 (accommodation $51; travel 460km @8c km  $37; food $12-50)