Intrepid tenters tough it out as storm lashes site

A waterlogged camp site and "scary" winds weren't enough to send the White family packing.
The extended Wellington family have set up a small tent city at the All Seasons Holiday Park at Rotorua's Hannahs Bay and rode out Tuesday's stormy weather.
Despite earlier fears, Rotorua got through the bad weather pretty much unscathed.
CastleCorp business manager Mijo Katavic said high winds caused a bit of damage at some of the city's parks, tearing branches from trees, but no other damage or flooding was reported.
Hundreds of Pukehangi homes were without power for about 30 minutes yesterday morning after a branch fell on power lines on Clayton Rd.
At least 1800 properties were affected, according to Unison public relations manager Danny Gough.
Rotorua weatherman Brian Holden recorded 40mm of rainfall between late Monday and Wednesday morning at his Springfield weather station and said more rain was on the way.
"The forecast is for shattered showers with a few fine days and further patches of rain next week."
The Whites - four families including eight adults, two children and two babies - arrived at the camping ground two weeks ago for their annual summer holiday of "relaxation and fishing".
As the remnants of two tropical cyclones made an impact on Rotorua, bringing high winds and rain, the Whites got out the cards and games, went to the Rotorua Museum and hit the sack early.
One of their gazebo tents buckled under the weight of the water that came down and another tent became a drying tent, strung up with wet clothing.
Nine-year-old Georgia Jackson-White said she was a bit frightened the previous night as she helped cook dinner for the family.
"It was scary.
"I thought the tent was going to flood. There was a lot of water."
Her mum Kelly Piper said things got pretty wet.
"We nearly had a water tent. We could have floated out on our air beds ... at least it wasn't cold."
Grandmother Daille White said it wasn't the worst camping holiday the families had experienced. Years ago while they were at a Ngongotaha park it rained for 21 of the 22 days they stayed, she said.
"We're a hardy family."
All Seasons Holiday Park manager Tracie Thornborough said not one of the campers at the park had been fazed by the bad weather.
As the sun shone yesterday, stories of wet camping trips were shared around the camp ground.
"Last year it was a lot worse but every year they keep coming back," she said.
"This is what tenting is all about - you take the risk. They all made fun of it."