Week Three. Park Three

Those habits just falling apart everywhere, how long will this one last I wonder. We chose a favourite on a windy Sunday. Murawai Beach is a newish addition to the the Auckland Regional Park group and has a bit of everything. Blimey was that beach busy. I was switching between being caught up in their energy and feeling terribly tired and lazy. We walked the beach, people watched, talked and had lunch. Re-energised by the sea and the breeze. 

Is it one of the most places I write about the most? Just photos here, part of a long weekend, a place to walk, as part of a charity effort, when I said goodbye to night shifts with a sunset to sunrise drive, more sunset moments and as place for winter camping.

It was warmer than this looks

The surf guards paying their respects

Energy, motivation. Busy and brilliant.

Week Two. Park Two

Switch off fail. I can sustain a habit for about 3 weeks. Need help with that. 

We did stick with the Regional Park Challenge though. After a Saturday of housework, shopping, job lists, BBQ and firework night with neighbours. Sunday was to be the first swim of the season. Waking up after the late night and the wine, I was wondering really?

But we went. 

We choose a favourite, Mahurangi and packed a picnic. Just getting out of the city I started to unwind. Stopping at our usual spot for coffee en route, watching the clouds and avoiding the phone (so I failed but didn't mean I still wasn't trying). 

That first dive, head under the water and then making a splash with the first few strokes, feeling alive and with energy. 

Then there is the important lying in the sun (I hide in semi shade), lunch, reading, listening to the folks around us, enjoying the wonderful day. 

Adam just lying and drying after the swim

I love it all. The anticipation, the dive under the water, the swim, the way my hair falls once it is sea soaked

Mind Palace

Maybe it is my mind palace, maybe it is just a picture that I like.
Either way it is about me finding my way back to my blog

Friday night was a blur

And not a good blur. My back is not happy. Turns out carrying a load of logs from one part of the garden to the other, isn't the best thing to do. I found walking harder and harder as Monday wore on. I was very good, stayed away from work on Tuesday and went to the physio. Excellent, feeling much better. So why not be rather stupid, and do loads of housework. Funnily enough, Wednesday wasn't as good. I did office work on the Thursday and went back to the physio, to be told off. However, whatever he did, by Thursday evening I really really couldn't walk. So Friday was a blur of pain, struggle and lots of pain killers. I watched movies though. 3 in fact. What else could I do. 

First Position - of course watching a documentary about dance when you can't move is a great idea

Iron Man 3 - this is better, facing my demons and rebuilding myself. 

All The Presidents Men - just one of my favourite films, that's all

My greatest achievement was moving from the sofa to the TV.  Those little things we take for granted, and then they are gone. I'm impatient, frustrated and angry. 

Let's have a calming photo of Karekare Beach from a trip a few weeks ago - when I could walk. 

Four days

four days. I used to take four days off for granted. a normal part of 12 hour shift working. now it is a delightful bag of joyousness. I made a list 

four days off ::restful:reading:relaxing:sunshine:rain:wind:waves:car:beach:soup:tiles:starwars:cleaning:gardening:photography:chocolate:wine:coffee:tea: sculpture:ducks:burn:sleep

A beautiful bowel of italian tomato soup at the Morris and James Pottery

The baseball section of our bat/ball/gun moment

Ticket for spur of the moment activity 

The wonder of the west coast.
 Muriwai Beach 

The dog I think was winning. Though I worry about dogs so close to the mental waves

Happy Day Photo number 90 something

The weekend that was

Is it more of a memory test for me to remember on a Monday evening how I spent the weekend.

Friday night at the Capitol Cinema night watching this  

Moving onto a perfecto ending for a Friday here 

A morning shopping in Newmarket 

Having a housework frenzy with a new steam mop

An incredible concert in the evening listening to these guys and these guys 

Driving out in the van

Farmers market and the town market at Clevedon 

Stroking the wood here 

Paddling in the sea at Maraetai 

Falling asleep to our afternoon movie...black and white Agatha Christie heaven 

Tasty dinner to wrap it all up

Memory not too bad then.

Walk 31 - Cathedral Cove

I inadvertently called this post 'Walk 41' oh that wishful thinking first draft of mine. It's been a busy little time of late but I was excited to realise that I have been walking without even thinking about it. A dear friend (or old boss depending on how you look at it) has been for a visit and I played host for a little time at the end of their trip. Travelling with a friend of hers we met them in the Coromandel (tragic suggestion of mine). A sunny Saturday, what to do. Now I know Hot Water Beach is supposed to be 'the thing to do', but I favour Cathedral Cove and that means a walk.

2.5km return with DOC allowing you a generous one and half hours we walked a little further by starting at Hahei Beach. It is a stunning place that we have seen a different times of the year. This day was clear skies, even clearer sea and we had no swim stuff. Tragedy, but still so lovely. The tide was in so we got wet walking through the Cathedral part. It also served as a research trip for my mothers upcoming visit.

At the lookout point - and the start of the walk if you can get parked in the car park.
We did't so headed down to Hahei Beach and walked from there. More exercise and the great views of Hahei beach on the way. 

On the walk back 

8 months

8 months of what. Well it could be 8 months of shame or disgust or embarrassment or just 8 months what it is - it's 8 months since we took the van out. There you go, confession done.
So moving on from the obvious New Years Resolution, goals for 2014, vision, mission...and so on. I think a star chart should do it.
WOF done and dusted, odd noise that bothered Adam, yes 8 months ago sorted, the van is one the road. The road road north, a beach, a swim, a sleep and a rather lovely pub where the landlord thought I ought to finish the bottle.
Perfect day.












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Sunday

We tried our hand at a garage sale. None of the predictions we had been given came true, we got up early, we sold some stuff. It was an education. Tired and in need of refreshment we headed to the beach.







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Walk 27 - Tawharanui

Repeated walks do count. Especially at Christmas time. Particularly when they include a swim (more of a general play in the waves to be more accurate).  Tawharanui Regional Park is worth the drive.

Kiwi camping style 

It was much warmer than it looks

The main beach as seen from the start of the walk

The laugh says it all - I do love swimming in the sea

It was beautiful and these pictures don't seem to have done it justice. 

Quite impressed with new iPhone…..

Walk 23 - Palm Cove

Back to our latest Australian trip (a couple more walks from this journey left I think), this walk was the result of an impromptu journey to the coast when Kuranda couldn't hold us any longer. Bypassing Cairns, or turning left at the roundabout we found Palm Cove on a windy, warm and sunny day. The sea was not very inviting and quite rough add to that the potential crocodiles and jelly fish a walk along the beach was just in order. Bright and breezy with the added bonus of yes, refreshments but a few (though not as many as i was expecting) shops. This was a walk with entertainment, a group of blokes on a (presumably) stag night with some of the best costumes I've seen on grown men for some time.

Far end of the beach and the start of the walk

Spread out before us

Because some things catch my eye

Love how the wind is blowing these

Walk 19 - Raglan

On a determined mission to complete the 41 walks challenge here. Procrastination and last minuteness play a big part in my personality for sure. This was Saturday Surprise. Adam chose 'out of Auckland' and I drove. He guessed around the time we hit Huntly that we were heading to Raglan. We haven't been there for a while and 2 hours of southerly driving had us pulling over by the wharf. Lunch first of course, then some shopping, a lot more shops than I remember from the last time. Lots of kiwi made and arty stuff so all rather cool, particularly in the torrential rain that was pouring. It had been a sunny drive down but now felt rather damp and a little chilly. Having eaten and shopped we headed to the beach. I recall feeling surprised (though not sure why) at the hills around Raglan, this time they delighted me, everywhere was so green and lush (lots and lots of rain remember). I also recall the sand on the beach being so so hot I could hardly walk on it, I figured that would not be the case this time. The tide was well in, why did this surprise me I do not know, memories I guess of the huge beach we lazed on in the summer of our last visit here. We walked, we walked past the lone surfer, past the surf school, we joined a lot of other walkers and their friendly dogs. It is a long expanse of west coast beach but where Muriwai stretches on and on into the forever this beach has land curving around, deceptive and inviting I guess. We turned to walk back and while acknowledging that the rain was heading this way again we couldn't help but delay in taking photos of the sea/cloud/sky combination that was unfurling before us. We got wet, we were dressed appropriately and enjoyed the downpour and the rainbow it produced. Sitting back in the car tucking into lemon cake and watching the light over the sea from an elevated viewpoint Saturday Surprise was heading to a close. Adam took the wheel and we drove back through the green hills heading to the highway to Auckland.

Near the wharf

To the beach