Matakana to Omana

On Saturday David waved with a hidden smile as I embarked on a shopping excursion with Carol and Carolyn at the helm.  We first went to Matakana Market where I enjoyed a local specialty --- White Bait Fritters.  These are made with little white fish -- their eyes are detected in the fritter.  I ate I just didn't look.  Here's a woman making these delectable fritters.

I forgot to mention that as we arrived we were greeted by two Kereru.  These birds are sometimes found drunk after gorging themselves on bush fruit.  When the fruit is ripe and the weather is warm, it can ferment in their crop which is an internal pouch that's part of their digestive system, and turn into alcohol.  The locals are asked to help sober them up when found on the ground after falling out of trees.

We however stayed sober for some serious shopping at Morris and James Pottery.

And then on to Warkworth where I found the perfect "stay warm and beautiful" possum blend wrap. New Zealand is overrun by possum so I was also aiding their efforts to rid their country of possum. The possum wool blend is soft and very warm.

I debated buying it over lunch and decided I would give David a quick call to get his support.  Gratefully he was on the line with his sister so said O'Kay --- not sure if that meant yes I hear you or O'kay go ahead and buy it.  I decided to go with the second thought and quickly bid "Bye bye" so he could continue talking to Sue and I could purchase what now was called "my wrap"!

Carol and I get to the store at 2:15 and are met with a locked door and a sign saying closed at 2:00.  Oh No!  Carol tapped on the door ---- I knocked on the door and low and behold the owner popped out and was glad to sell me "my wrap"!  (I grabbed this photo from Carol's blog --- thanks for capturing this.)

Needless to say it was a great day of shopping and hanging with friends.  A big thank you to Carolyn for driving us to all these fun places!

Now to Omana Regional Park!  This park is close to Maratai, not far from home.  It has a short 1 hour track that starts at a beautiful knoll overlooking the Hauraki Gulf and wanders through sheep pastures where we saw some pretty new lambs.  

Yes, even the lambs have tea time!

He is looking for more Kereru. I have to admit David looks so natural in the bush.

We ended the day with a walk along the beach and a late lunch at a bay side cafe.

I need to close with a picture of a rooster that greeted us at Omana Park -- not to be out done by the Kereru greeting at Matakana.

Walking --- Hiking ---- Tramping

This was a mild winter week in Auckland.  We had some clouds but mostly mild days.  We still carry our space heater (Maeve) with us into every room but have not had the bone-chilling days of last week.
These first pictures are from a walk I did to Cockle Bay Beach.

Then On Saturday we took a hike along Howick Beach to Mellons Bay.

I call this a hike because we navigated along the beach and rocky cliffs.

As you can see Saturday was a bit cloudier.  The cliffs were a bit tricky to navigate around.  David was loving the low tide to be able to do this and I, of course was wondering about our sanity.

Then Sunday we went on our first tramp with the Howick Tramping Club.  We went to Shakespeare Regional Park which again had green rolling hills with nearby sheep, some bush walks, and a Lookout used in WW II.  We were typical first timers.  We pull up to the car park to meet our fellow trampers.  I am dressed in layers: long underwear under my hiking pants, merino wool layer 1, Loki layer 2, and my rain jacket on my top half.  Our fellow trampers are mostly in shorts with 1 layer on top.  I'm very aware of my different look but quickly get into the car we will be transported in.  While in transport to our destination I nonchalantly remove my long underwear. (David is not sure what to make of this) When we get to Shakespeare Park I share with everyone the cool features of the Loki shirt --- arms that extend into mittens, a neck cover that pops over your head and then of course the fitted hood.  Everyone was very impressed as we joked about how prepared I was!!  This is a great group of people.

David and fellow hikers climbing the hill.  Of course I am on top shooting the pix -----Hmmmmmmm

The Bush walk

Lamb Chop

View from the Top

Even in the midst of a tramp there is tea time!  This is at the top of the lookout.

And this is a waterfall we came upon while tramping in the bush.  It was a beautiful, warm winter day.  As one experienced tramper suggested, I should just wear one layer and add to it ----- much easier than my approach.  I had enough extra top layers for a small village in my back pack by the end of the day.  We culminated the day at a cafe for flat whites and my chai latte.  A successful first tramp.

Then David and I were treated to Carol's homemade spaghetti and meatballs for dinner ----- The perfect meal!!  Carol even made tirimisu (sp). It was delicious!!

I will end with a picture of me swinging with the Tamaki Estuary in my background.  It was a great week.

Ramblings from Hobbiton

This week's travels took us to Matamata, home of the Hobbiton movie set and farm.  We were transported to Middle Earth by our friend Carol.  The rolling hills and beautiful farms entertained us on the way as we searched for any stray dwarves.

David, impressed with his own height,  assumed the role of Gandalf as he wondered how he would ever fit in Hobbiton.

Nancy of course had no problem entering the hobbit homesteads and was adopted by the community of hobbits.

David cheered up after a nice cup of ginger brew at the Green Dragon Inn.  As you can see the Inn even hosts outside parties in the back.  Since our day was mostly sunny but crisp, Gandalf found a particularly comfortable spot inside.

Warmed and rested Gandalf was more convinced than ever that the hobbits could reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the Dragon Smaug.

I don't know ..... maybe he slayed the dragon....

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

The working farm that is home to Hobbiton so matches the descriptions by Tolkien.  Here are a few more views of the site.  The first picture is Bilbo Baggin's home.  

The tree that follows is the one on top of Bilbo's cottage and is totally fabricated.  It costs over 1 million  dollars to construct  --- the artificial leaves were imported from Taiwan.

Now not to be outdone by Bilbo,  David and I would like to invite you into our cottage and working farm.

Hope you enjoyed Hobbiton --- We sure did!

A Big thanks to Carol for traveling through the shire with us.

We did explore again on Saturday after a morning at the market.  David finds these great little hikes right around our area.  So we headed for the Pakuranga Rotary Walk and walked along the Tamaki Estuary.  If you followed it completely you could end up at Pigeon Mountain, another volcanic site.  We started too late to complete the whole trail.  Along the way is this great kid's area called Snakes and Ladders -- composed of climbing ladders and tunnel slides ---- great for hide and seek too.

Have a great week!

Ramblings from the old times to farm and coastal tramps

It's the middle of winter and yet we had two sunny warm days here in Auckland!  And they landed on a weekend!  I know --- Your "gobsmacked!"

We visited the Howick Historical Village on Saturday and learned about the history of our little town.  It was very interesting and really well done.  Howick was a fencible settlement.  The fencibles were retired soldiers --- many from Ireland who were recruited here not to fight but to defend and preside in mandatory parades.  They were promised free passage over and a cottage with an acre of land.  Of course when they arrived these cottages were not ready.  Most were put in tents.

And they were about as pleased as David appears here.

Or they were put in some huts.

O'kay I look a little happier --- although I was sure something had fallen into my hair.

When we arrived we met Joan dressed in appropriate costume who was a wealth of information and would pop up during the afternoon and visit with us.  The rooster that is following her is named Rod Stewart and apparently never shuts up.

Laundry day was a big deal back then also ---- Hmmmmm --- If only I had a covered porch!?

The fencible pictured here

apparently posted this note in town

and instead just got a school marm

(O'k what are fettlocks?)

Enough of out history --- we ended Saturday with a walk to Musick Point which is at the tip of one of the peninsulas.  The pix never do justice to these views.

Sunday was another "brilliant" day.  We went hiking with Carol, a doctor and friend from Maryland, more recently Nashville,  who has been so supportive in helping us get settled in a new land.  We explored Duder Regional Park (there are 25 regional parks) which includes a farm loop and a coastal walk.  We decided on the farm loop which joined another trail which ended at the tip of the peninsula.

After tramping and sloshing through hillsides of sheep all the while wondering why the trails weren't better marked

we discovered there was another way to go

the actual trail! ?

It was a delightful day none the less --- and to our credit other folks were tramping on the hillsides also. We had our picnic lunch with a panoramic view of the Hauraki Gulf and the Tamaki Strait at Whakakaiwhara Point. (/wh/ pronounced as an /f/)

Some more pix from this hike

Our friend Carol, looking like a true New Zealander

And the lovable Coloradan Kiwis

View from the tip of the peninsula

As we departed the park and drove into the town of Maraetai, we discovered a wonderful coastal cafe where we had our classic chai and flat whites accompanied by a huge bowl of thick fries (maybe the only deal ($ wise) we have discovered in NZ).  What a treat!

We all agreed this is a must see for visitors with a few adjustments --- Start with the coastal walk --then loop through the farm lands to the tip of the Peninsula and then end up at the cafe for a scrumptious lunch.

David and I ended the day with a walk along Cockle Bay to the start of the Mangemangeroa Reserve.  We were so excited that we could walk along the coast all the way until I noticed the tide coming in and the walkable stretch shrinking.  Now I know we invested in those wonderful water proof hiking boots but really!!   

Needless to say we picked up our pace and made it to dry land by a smidgen along the cliff.

Phew--------Another dry day!

Continued Ramblings

No it is not raining at Rangitoto View Road though a cloud just passed over!  I just carry my rain pants and rain coat in my pack wherever I go.  There are plenty of partially sunny or partially cloudy days depending on your perspective.  No worries, mate!

David and I joined friends at Sky City Orbit Restaurant with the 360 degree turning restaurant and incredible views of the city and multiple bays --- quite lovely and incredibly yummy especially the very decadent chocolate dessert composed of some fudgey-type  cake, caramel ice cream, fresh whipped cream and a chocolate dusting ------ thank God tramping, hiking and walking are a big part of each day!

We explored the Auckland Botanic Gardens on Sunday.  The gardens cover 156 acres -- pretty spectacular.  There is a kind of South Pacific flare.  Some plants and trees were still blooming --- remember this is winter here.  Here are a few pix --- they really don't do justice to what we saw.

Yes that last pix is David praying to the Gingko tree for its magic powers to infuse him with its gift of infinite memory.

Adjacent to the gardens is the 4 km. Puhinui Stream Forest Trail which loops through a forest area --- a unique treck through the largest ferns and lowland broadleaf plants I have ever seen.

Yesterday was my first day volunteering at a primary school.  What a trip.  I had the opportunity to shadow a Reading Recovery Teacher.  I will work one-on-one with some students twice a week.  Everyone was very welcoming and my style of teaching matches really well.  I know teachers at home will love hearing that from 10:20 - 11:00am every morning the children play and the teachers go to the lounge for a cup of tea!  What a concept!!  I hate to even mention that teachers get a full hour for lunch also and the school day is no longer than ours.  I was introduced during tea time to a very welcoming staff.  They love my accent ---- wait a minute ---- who has the accent?!

Bye for now ----- afraid it's tea time!
Quick fact: the average Kiwi drinks 7 cups of tea a day......Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Oh I promised Katie I would send a pix of my first egg painting here.  This was done on an unusually large cream colored egg.  This is the art of pysanky.