Raglan Ramblings

Late last year I pitched a surf trip to Raglan, New Zealand to some of the long-term supporters and partners of CSI and last week we set off as 'The Magnificent 7', along with my grommet man/child Taylor to round out our surf team.

What a treat to see 8 strangers become good friends over 5 days of sun, surf, food and godly company. So often men get together to lower the bar - this was a trip where good men got together to raise the bar!

We did a spontaneous detour to the East Coast on Friday to catch a new 2m east swell at Whangamata Bar. We then headed to Raglan that afternoon to catch a rising 2m south-west swell on Sunday.

Even if a couple of the groms (David and Crofty) were in their 60's there was plenty of boyish fun. Stay tuned CSI supporters for your next opportunity!

Highlights included:

• Spectacular sunny days and 20C water temps that had us out of steamers - hello are we in NZ?
• 3-5' groundswell with 16 second period saw lines stacked to the horizon.
• Amazing accommodation overlooking Manu Bay.
• Bruce Baker's budgie smuggler phobia, provoked by the over 60's.
• Taylor's endless reentries at Manu.
• Crofty's airline ticket antics that nearly left him at Sydney International Airport.
• Col Hackfath's rock hopping entertainment.
• David and Mike's underwear frozen solid overnight (an oldie but a goodie!) 
• Wayne Ryan's world surfari stories.
• Steve Heard, our local kiwi surf guide.
• David Smith's noseride at Indicators.
• Gordy and Jean's Sunday night meal invitation...despite sacrilegious application of tomato sauce to NZ lamb!
• After dinner round table discussion about being fruitful for God.
• Late night spa soak solving the world's problems.
• Ruapuke rally cross drive.