Capture: Where have you been all Summer?
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I finally got down to see the Lighthouse and discovered that it can be magic on a sunny day too.
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Outside.
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And Captain Cook meets the "grunge" filter. Moody.
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What the heck, one more.
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Rakino: Main Rd, lunch rush. From the ridge - Waiheke to left (between trees), Motutapu and Rangitoto to right. Overlooking Woody Bay. Hard to convey in pics just how hilly this island is.
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Rakino: Hole in the rock, seen from kayak.
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Two shots of the kids for the price of one. Captain Budgie Smuggler in the background gives front and rear. Takapuna Beach.
ETA: Not sure why these are showing rotated in the previews. When I open them it seems to come right.
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The first school camp I've ever been on where we actually camped. Shakespear Park. On left of shot, beyond the pavilion, is where the Burma Trail was laid out, going up the hill into the bushes. I thought I'd do a pre-inspection, since my boy is disabled and could not manage the previous year's one. I gave it the all clear, and then felt a bit responsible for the fact that one child broke his ankle and another was apparently concussed (but subsequently turned out just to be dehydrated and exhausted from lack of sleep). I had not factored in just how much gusto the other parents would have in the whole hiding in the bushes and scaring the shit out of the kids, nor just how hard it is to get excited children to follow instructions like "No, don't go that way, there's a big hole....", or "drink from your waterbottles whenever you feel thirsty".
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It's been such an awesome summer I feel remiss for not taking more pictures. Was just enjoying it with my eyes. Two stints in Rotorua on Lake Rotoiti, my bro's new house - gave me a whole new perspective on the joys of fresh water sport. Nice that you basically never have to wash the boat or yourself after being in the water. His house literally backs onto a natural wonder, a valley of glow-worms, which we visited with hushed voices, marveling at walking through a galaxy of lights in the dense bush, disturbed only by morepork cries, before going back to the house to sit around an outdoor fire toasting marshmallows, BBQing, chilling, dancing, as locals popped in to see what was up and meet the new neighbors.
A stint on Waiheke, in all its new-found hypercommercial glory. From that I felt alienated, but once out on the water, or walking the beaches, it was the familiar bedrock of natural volcanic glory that I spent my childhood holidays in, and the polehouse bach right on the water inviting every single inhabitant in the valley to drop in at one time or another on the obligatory daily dip.
Visits to the beach nearly every day during "Boy's Holiday", the period after school finished, but before Christmas and the new job in the New Year, during which the days were just me and my boys. I widened their eyes to what is in Auckland, less than an hours drive at all times. Days spent at Pt Chev, Takapuna, Mission Bay beaches. Visits to different pools and other attractions. Trips in the new year to Piha and Karekare, which left deep impressions.
I had an adult boys trip to Rakino during which everyone ate and drank too much to appreciate what is a bit of a hidden jewel of the Hauraki. I'll definitely be back.
The school year started with the camp on Whangaparoa, fantastic way to meet the teachers, parents, and his new mates. The first night's talent show began with the obligatory skits and childish jokes, then a shy Pacific Island boy began a quiet solo, which took me a while to pick until he burst out with the chorus "I will always love you", which he did with such gusto and pitch perfection that the cheering risked drowning him out. A child with Asperger's (I think) gave a bizarre comedy routine referencing internet memes that clearly went over almost all the kid's head, although they laughed at all the right times, and encouraged him constantly. It was well past bed time by the time we'd all belted out the old school favourites like "One Day a Taniwha", and "Tutira Mai".
I had two terrible night's sleep on a slowly deflating air bed, which I then had to pack up and take to Kiwifoo. Fortunately the lovely Deborah Russell (who I met for the first time after many many years of to-and-fro on PAS) stole a mattress from her room for the second night and let me have it. I'm definitely going to find a better mattress solution, because the eldest has now decided that he wants to do more camping, since then.
The lazy days have been filled with walks around the district, picnics in the parks, board games (the youngest turns out to have a scary talent for Catan). Varsity started again, and most days have been bike-ridable, and my employer is happy with part-time for now, and the commute is against the traffic.
Even work days are glorious. It could be the first flush of enjoyment at doing exactly what I'm trained for the first time in a few years after extensive retraining, or the sharp contrast from dealing with the faceless, soul-less Uber and the country's bizarre love affair with its abusive ways, or it could actually be the awesomeness of working with Nat Torkington and the Innovators gang, but either way, Birkenhead and its environs are part of my Summer of '17 memories.
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Oh, loving these pictures, summer re-lived right here. The guest book! Classic!
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Sacha, in reply to
the awesomeness of working with Nat Torkington and the Innovators gang
glad to hear that. you've certainly put in the prep work.
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Nora Leggs, in reply to
Our first visit yesterday too, must’ve been a day for it.
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In fact the whole weekend ended up with nautical detail.
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Terminal.
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Boatshed Devonport.
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And nothing to do with summer, but can't resist this.
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Nora Leggs, in reply to
Did it in barefeet until the last 3km
That's is beyond the call of duty!!!
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It's all about the location : moored up for the night in the middle of Golden Bay, Feb 15th.
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It's also about the accommodation.
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Nora Leggs, in reply to
Golden Bay
Putting the Gold in Golden Bay :)
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Return to the lighthouse, at night.
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Beacon for moths too.
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Putting parasols to good use
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Here's a puzzle. This peice of sandstone or mudstone was outside in the rain awhile. Before long it split up, releasing these teeny white shells. Guessing they are old.... but how old?
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Sanya Baker, in reply to
Katharine, I hope you don't mind me sharing my enthusiasm for your post here on Twitter. It is just beautiful.
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