Hard News by Russell Brown

Read Post

Hard News: Floating the idea

189 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 Newer→ Last

  • Russell Brown,

    Couple more 1920s pics of the Chev, because they buzz me out.

    The Dixieland cabaret from the sea. Calling Chris Bourke!

    And people taking camping holidays there.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    found this absolutely amazing picture of the beach in the 20s.

    Popular spot - and some of Ben's uninterrupted mangroves in the distance

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Russell Brown,

    And look! Lotsa babies/toddlers right in there, learning about water - and swimming-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Islander,

    And look! Lotsa babies/toddlers right in there, learning about water – and swimming-

    It certainly looks that way.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn, in reply to Che Tibby,

    all that sand just washes out into your estuary, then out to sea somewhere.

    Are you talking about the Balina Bay experience? The residents imported some fine white sand for their little cove, but when last sighted, it was out in the channel somewhere. All this happened many years ago, when I lived in Wellington. You might be far too young to remember :)

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn, in reply to Islander,

    I discovered for myself an unconventional backstroke – which was great, but which was basically hauling myself through the waters with my strong young arms & quite powerful shoulders

    Snap. Couldn't do overarm to save myself, but won races with my backstroke. I could also do breaststroke quite well, but wasn't very fast.

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Here's a painting by Tyrone Layne. Certainly getting full usage in that picture,

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to Russell Brown,

    And I did an image search and found this absolutely amazing picture of the beach in the 20s.

    What well-dressed beachgoers in that picture! Especially that chap centre left who appears to be both wearing a bowtie and carrying a handbag.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Alastair Jamieson, in reply to Russell Brown,

    To clarify, I wasn't referring to Pt Chevalier as a location where a sandy beach never existed - here it is looking sandy (and grainy) in 1940.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 99 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Popular spot - and some of Ben's uninterrupted mangroves in the distance

    Aren't they simply beautiful? You could travel the length and breadth of NZ and not see or smell finer.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Alastair Jamieson,

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 99 posts Report Reply

  • Annie,

    In response to Sacha.
    I seem to remember that someone did a cost/benefit assessment of Manukau's policy (after some councillors wanted to go back to charges).
    They worked out that the benefits included not only the swimming lessons for children (and adults), and the recreational benefits for all ages, but for older adults having a warm pool for exercise meant improved health and mobility, leading to less use of the health system. The Council ran special classes with aquatic exercises for elderly folk.
    As for being a social meeting place, over several years, I have met numerous families from Onehunga, Otahuhu. Hillsborough, Royal Oak, and even Epsom at the Mangere and Papatoetoe pools.
    Papatoetoe stopped charging entry when its parent council merged with Manukau. I support free entry, with payment for the "extras" such as hydroslides.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2011 • 2 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Alastair Jamieson – couldnt raise the photo…

    Ben W – I have had a totally irrational love for mangrove swamps, & baobabs, since I was very young. No reason for it – I just loved the pikkies I saw on sight. And yes, I dont believe in reincarnation! One brain-body complex, one person, one life – that’s it.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Alastair Jamieson, in reply to Islander,

    Blast – here, hopefully this link will stick.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 99 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Alastair Jamieson,

    Thank you, it did (& I haz magnifiers!)

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Russell Brown,

    But I was quietly glad to stop going -- it seems less fun when you're not there with young children, and it's certainly not as relaxing as jumping on my bike and riding down to the beach for a dip

    For sure, on your own as an adult, living only what? 2km from the beach? that's gotta win most days. It's a much stiffer ride for me, particular with Marcus on the back of the bike. But still well worth it. The pool's just a different experience - he has certainly got in the water much more readily in the pool, and has taken an interest in the other people there. He's been squat walking in the pool, with its sure bottom and lack of waves. At the beach he'd be lucky to get in up to his waist.

    For me alone, on those rare occasions I get leave :-), beaches are where I swim, unless it's low tide.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Alastair Jamieson, in reply to Islander,

    Oh, and here's a bigger version.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 99 posts Report Reply

  • James Butler, in reply to Russell Brown,

    It appears that there used to be a hell of a lot of natural sand there. Far, more, indeed, than there is now. What happened? Or were they re-sanding 90 years ago?

    I vaguely recall reading once that the original sand in Oriental Bay, at least, came from sailing ships dumping sand ballast in Wellington Harbour. I now can't find any reference to back me up.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Couple more 1920s pics of the Chev, because they buzz me out.

    The Dixieland cabaret from the sea. Calling Chris Bourke!

    And people taking camping holidays there.

    Both links seem to bring up the camping pic.
    Looks spookily like Freddie Krueger standing at back row centre.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Pat Hackett,

    I would prefer if the Council looked at a combined Auckland City / Auckland Schools programme to get all primary and intermediate school-age kids learning to swim. In some cases, this might include re-opening or building a school pool. If the goal is to reduce drownings, then this would be money better spent than on free entry to council owned wave pools such as West-wave, where there is never any actual swimming going on.

    The never-ending drownings of adults whilst fishing in the Manukau in small tinnies without life-jackets, or fishing off the rocks at Muriwai, is just Darwin's law of natural selection in action, I'm afraid.

    Auckland • Since Oct 2010 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Alastair Jamieson,

    To clarify, I wasn’t referring to Pt Chevalier as a location where a sandy beach never existed

    No, it was more that I was startled to see quite how sandy it once was.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    West-wave, where there is never any actual swimming going on

    Slander! Our family spends lots of time at West Wave. There are also big, well-utilised lap pools in that complex AND a little warmer pool for the babies and kiddies to do their lessons. (And the wave pool - which doesn't run all the time, incidentally - is quite deep at one end and does require some dextrous floating, at the very least.)

    I like Pt Chev beach because my other closest beach is Piha, and it's a little intimidating for me: although I love ocean swimming, I'm a poor swimmer. At Piha I just stand at about thigh-level and get thwacked by the surf (like James Mason at the end of A Star is Born, but without the suicidal bit), but at Pt Chev I'm brave enough to lift my feet off the ground and paddle about a bit.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Austin,

    So far as I recall from growing up all the rural primary schools in North Otago had small swimming pools of some description. I don't think all of the Oamaru ones did, but then they had access to the main Council pool. Of course this was before the late 1980s -early 1990s closure of a lot of smaller rural schools - so I do not know what has happened to those pools

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report Reply

  • Pat Hackett,

    Depending on where you live in West Auckland, is Piha or Muriwai really the closest ocean beaches? If you live at the Avondale end surely Takapuna beach or Mission Bay are really short, easy drives. And if you live closer to Westgate, then Mairangi Bay is just straight along Upper Harbour and Constellation drives. All three usually have some waves and far less likely to kill you (except for sewerage outflows after a storm!)

    Auckland • Since Oct 2010 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle, in reply to Pat Hackett,

    I live at neither the "Avondale end" nor the "Westgate end" of west Auckland. I live, in fact, on the road to Piha. :) (I did grow up in Mairangi Bay, incidentally, but escaped.)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.