Savouring natural gifts with special guests on GBI It’s more than two months since my last post – the longest gap since we moved here nearly four years ago! I knew there’d be no writing when my dear son and daughter-in-law were here, and it seems that after a month of great visiting, I needed a month to catch up! After experiencing the peace, beauty and grandeur of the island in two other summers for only two or three weeks, they decided to immerse themselves in island life and stay for a whole month in January and February! A full-on, happy month is was! One of many lovely outcomes was even more photos than in previous years to absorb myself in and choose the very best! Here are more than 50! *** THE GUESTS *** They slept at Sugarloaf, the beachside home of Johnny and Christina and some of their whanau, at the south end of Kaitoke Beach. Johnny, who’s the son of our dear friends Winnie and Charlie, built the sleepout for their daughter, Eloise, the acclaimed Black Fern rugby player, when she’s home for visits. Christina and Johnny Good thing the sleepout is unfinished – lots of shelf space! Breakfast (part 1) – the honey is from our hives in Golden Bay! Views from the picnic table At low tide an isthmus connects to the small islands High tide, low tide and rough seas change the scene around the Mermaid Pool. Paul's in the background. The commute Paul and Mary loved their 40-minute walk back and forth from Sugarloaf along Kaitoke Beach in late morning and at the end of the day, with its never-ending changes in weather, sea and sky. Heading out Kids at the point First they crossed the stream, home of an oystercatcher couple It had become deep enough to float. Onto the big beach Protecting their ears on a windy day Sometimes they passed surfers Sometimes oystercatchers On commute The dragon marked the turnoff through the dunes to Oceanview Road. After huge seas and high tides, the beach was a lake They loved to walk back by the full moon light. Mountain biking Paul rode the Te Ahumata track a few times. Views from the top A day at Harataonga Paul and our friend (and Paul and Mary's new friend) Sam biked the picturesque Harataonga Track that follows the coast through regenerating bush from Okiwi to the Harataoga campground. Mary drove up with them and the two bikes in Sam’s car. She left them at the turnoff to Harataonga and drove down to spend a meditative afternoon amongst the pohutukawa trees and at the beach. On the way to the north end of the track, they rode up to the other Sam’s house at Windy Canyon and photographed the view. Start of the track – Whangapoua Estuary South end of Whangapoua Beach The track Back at the campground And then they all went for a relaxing swim. Until – yikes! – sharks! This is the beach where the film Cast Away with Tom Hanks was filmed. When the sea was rough, we headed for our sparkling swim spot at Kaitoke Creek. On a greyish day, we’re on the way to the “green place”, our daily destination – an opening in the brown reeds where the grass is green. About two kilometres downstream from the bridge, Kaitoke Stream enters the sea, dividing Kaitoke Beach from Palmers Beach. When Paul and Mary were here the stream was deep at any tide, because a big sandbar had blocked it at its mouth. One day they set out to the north end of Kaitoke Beach to check out the sandbar – another 40-minute walk each way. The big dune you can see from our house The sandbar, and Palmer’s beach beyond As far as the stream goes now. It’s happened before, and big swells have always unblocked it eventually. Te Ahumata in the background. Looking back to Kaitoke from Palmers Wild sea During Paul and Mary’s last week here, the sea was as big as we’ve ever seen it. What a treat to sit at Sugarloaf and exclaim over every mega wave and splash-up! Some days it was risky for them to start their walk along the rocky areas of Sugarloaf, and once on the beach they had to walk right up by the dunes. They took more photos of this big sea than of anything else! Here’s a small sample. No isthmus today! On two incredible mornings the sea was at its peak of wildness To conclude the photo fest – the only one of the four of us! We bought hangi dinners for the marae fundraiser and enjoyed a picnic on the dunes. We did lots of other closer-to-home stuff, including radio shows, Mary’s Pelvic Health Yoga classes, proposals in support of the Teyuna people of Colombia, sessions for strength, alignment and movement, looking at hundreds of photos from their last two years and ours from decades ago, playing Rummicub, and cooking and eating! More next time.
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