Ventures in Northland

Been a while since I have 'blogged', too busy playing with guests to sit down to write anything.  Not a terrible problem though really.  After Cathy's departure, we were left with a giant hole in our lives.  Missing her sunshine smile and warm laughter.  Within a week of her departure, Ed arrived again to be with the kids for their April 2 week holiday.  I then had a chance to venture off on my own with friend Michele to visit some of her favorite spots farther north in Northland, north of Auckland on the map.  First we went to Whangarei and then out to Parua Bay to stay with very old friends of hers on their beautiful 30 acre spread. We paddled and tramped and surfed, sort of, and had a most amazing time.  She is easy to travel with and a most gracious host in showing me the area.  

After 2 days staying the Denise and Graham, we departed south again, this time to Mangawhai where we stayed with Mark and Maureen, home of Heads FM radio, 106.4,  Tune in and check it out.  Great station!  Loved being with them and talking surf/paddleboarding, bees, education, life, love, all of it,  So good!  Lovely home in the bush and they even have an original mongolian yurt!

Anyway, here are some of the pictures to give you a sense of it all.

Here is sunrise from the top of the Mount the morning we left!!  can't seem to get enough of this!

Can you see the Maggie girl in the photo? (random photo that made it in here but cute enough to keep in the blog posting!)

This is a shot of Parua Bay looking out from the local pub where we celebrated Michele's friend's son's 21st bday. These bdays are a much bigger event here, a true right of passage celebration with lots of family and friends gathering to honor and roast the celebrant.  A lovely spot for this evening!

Some of the local scenery from the area

Denise and Graham have the most lovely place with an amazing home and lots of out buildings for all of the toys.  This is where Michele and I slept in the apt at top of the boat shed.

Out early for a paddle before the winds pick up too much.

Here is the view from the main home looking out over Parua Bay.  Town of Whangarai is to the right of this photo and over the hills.

Here is the lovely home!  Citrus and Olive orchards are in the back of the house.  And if you look under the tree branch, there is a rocky peak in the background, Michele and I made it our mission to climb that in the afternoon, no worries about the huge rain clouds overhead!

Another view looking out over Parua Bay across the wonderfully landscaped property.

While guests, we took on the job of assistant floral arrangers, collecting our goods from on site and letting one of Denise's daughters make the table arrangements.  

And then Michele went nuts with the big pot, filling it with all the fun bigger plants!!  It was gorgeous! 

These two shots are from top of the rocky outcrop.  This below is looking south towards Auckland over the other side towards the refinery and Whangarei Heads.  Ocean Beach, photos to follow, sits on the other side of the Heads.

One of my favorite trees here, the Norfolk Pine

And what would our time here be without enjoying the delight of the Manuka flower?!  The bees love it and make an amazing honey, with great medicinal value as well.

Another view looking back down Parua Bay towards Denise and Graham's from the deck of the pub, venue for party.

Michele in a heated debate with old friend

Ocean Beach!  Looking north up the coast….

…and now looking South.  This is where we tried a bit of surfing on our paddle boards, not too successful, but can't beat the location!

 Farther South now in Mangawhai, woke to this sun rise over the eastern coast/Pacific Ocean.

Michele's friend here runs this awesome radio station out of his home.  Great programming throughout the day.  And then there is the Jazz program he has too.  One can pick them up on app called TuneIn radio.

Terrible shot, but there is a rainbow just over the trees in this photo above their house.

These folks live in the bush in a home like a treehouse.  Sweet backyard with lovely gardens around, see beehives in the far background.

Mark is a beekeeper as well, and these girls are active throughout the entire year!

Here are the jokers doing what they do best-laughing and having fun!  Maureen, Michele and Mark

Have I mentioned how much I love the public bathrooms here in this country?!  Look at these in Matakana, small town north of Auckland!  So cool!

And then I was back home and had to rise the next AM to this sunrise at our local beach.  Nice!