Week 17

Sunday 12th March. Back to more rain and wind. Rob said thunder storm during the night but we didn't hear it. Rain cleared after lunch. Went down to the beach late pm. Not too windy. A lot of surfers, sea quite rough. Surprising number of people on the beach and in the sea. Suspect everyone pleased to get out after all the rain. Low tide, first time we have been there when it's so low. Seemed to be a vast expanse of beach. Tide had been in quite a way during the stormy weather and a large tree trunk was lying in the middle of the beach where it had been washed up. We walked right along the beach to where the footpath goes up and back over the Heads to the car park Surf Beach Mangawhai Surf Beach Mangawhai . Too far and too hilly for us to attempt, sadly, suspect the views are spectacular. There is house under construction close to the beach and just a bit further along, by the footpath, is a beautiful house with striking Aeolian sculpture for sale. €3.500000+ apparently! A nice little summer house! I wondered how it was accessed and when we got back I looked on Google and access is from the road to Waipu, Cove Road. Quite a way out. Back to our more modest, but most acceptable accommodation, for the evening. Monday 13th March. Weather clearing at last. Got washing done and dried. Walked on beach in the afternoon. We left about 5pm and remarked how few people were on the beach. First time we have seen it so quiet. Quite windy but warm. Bridge in the evening. Ten there this week, a bit better than last week. Tuesday 14th March. Weather definitely on the up again. Beach in the afternoon. N walked a bit further than I did. Very clear. Wednesday. 15th March Cards in the afternoon. Only nine there this week. We were on table for five, different way of playing took a while to get used to. Thursday. 16th March Left about 11am and drove to Matakana. Had lunch at the Black Dog. Then to Martin's Bay Surf Beach Surf Beach . A bit cooler and breezier than our last visit. Sat in shade of Pohutakawa and read. Breeze dropped and I got changed and went in the sea which is still nice and warm. Had a break and then Nigel braved the waves! Not warm enough for him though so he wasn't in for long. Lovely relaxing afternoon. Back home, just before Rob, at 5.45. Friday 17th March. Riding today!!! Up and away at 10am. We were on 11.30 ride at Warkworth. N was given Terminator to ride! Scary name for a very docile horse. I had asked to ride Zoe who I rode many times on our last trip here. She's a nice, forward going horse so don't have to work hard and push her along. Just us and 2 Japanese boys who, it seemed, hadn't ridden before. We were escorted by Heather, Alisha and a German girl. Heather asked if I wanted to go the long way round with Alisha and have a few canters. Didn't think twice, perhaps I should have, but it was too tempting. I did say to Alisha that I didn't want to set off until we had got round the tight bend that I knew was further up the track. Memories of hurtling round there in the past! So,off we went , standing up in the stirrups and holding on to the neck rein. No worries about stopping as I knew Zoe would stop at the top. A bit further on and another fast canter up to the top of the farm and the boundary fence. As we looked down into the neighbouring property Alisha showed me where the route of the proposed motorway, from Warkworth to Wellsford will go Surf Beach Surf Beach . Difficult to imagine looking down on the beautiful countryside and at the hill which will be tunnelled through. Back down to the water trough where we gave the horses a break. Then on to the next hill and the last canter. As we set off I felt a sharp pain in my back, oh dear. Walked back down the hill and met up with the others in the field at the bottom. Back was OK whilst walking so just mooched around with Nigel and then had photos taken before returning to the yard. Said our farewells, got changed and went in to Warkworth for lunch at our usual place, The Riverside. Then shopped at New World before returning home. Rob away until Sunday, up in Paihia. Saturday 18th March. Slept OK but back quite painful. Suspect may have pulled a muscle. Went into library and market. Beautiful day. After lunch we went to visit Margaret, friend from cards, who lives just down the road. Had a pleasant afternoon chatting with her Surf Beach Surf Beach . She and her husband came over to NZ in 1972 and he died some time ago. She is a keen gardener and we had a look round her garden and then she took us to see her absent neighbours garden. There was a flourishing veg garden there so I picked a few tomatoes and some parsley. First decent tomatoes we have had since our arrival. Also got a couple of feijoa, an unusual fruit that I had not seen before we came to this country.