Sitting near the dock of the bay

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Wordless Wednesday

Another wild coastline

Not far from my home on the West Coast of the North Island, New Zealand, there is more wild coastline.

Views from above this coastline can be gained from Whitireia Park, a reserve area which some years ago was farmed.

Standing on the high cliffs in the park there is almost always a wind blowing across this exposed site. It is bracing and exhilarating.

This high vantage point offers great views of Mana Island, a wildlife sanctuary.

The rocks are rugged and treacherous here as the Tasman Sea washes into the Porirua harbour entrance.

People use this stretch of coast and this park for all manner of recreational pursuits, both in the sea and on the land.

My visit was to record more of the beautiful landscapes that are found in the area in which I am fortunate enough to live.

Ironic

When the land you love shakes beneath your feet

and even rocks that look so solid

suddenly can shift because of a greater force, you wonder what is certain about your life anymore.

But the waves will still form and break

and the tides come and go.

The sea air is still tangy and refreshing. The sun warm and the sky blue on days like this one.
A wave surge hits the sea wall and exhilarates you with delight as salt water splashes your face.

It is ironic that nature means earthquakes here in Aotearoa but it is nature that we return to for solace and restoration of spirit and hope.

Mother’s Day afternoon on Plimmerton beach

Rocks in the pool that is life

And then there is the day when the dry and the dying are present to you despite the blue sky, the beauty and the soothing sounds of water and birds.

A day when you recall that the path ahead is often hard, bleached of colour and curves away unseen.

When the rocks in life appear large in a depleted pool

and when a foundation rock of your own life has gone into another form.

Another walk by the Pauatahanui Inlet

The long spell of unbroken summer weather continues on here and earlier in the week I went for a walk along the Inlet on the Camborne Walkway.

I began my walk with this view ahead of me.

The boatsheds are a colourful and eclectic group of buildings. Each has a different character which makes it a very interesting place to wander by.

And between each boatshed is a glimpse of the stunning Inlet on a stunning day.

There are creative additions on almost all the sheds.

A finial to keep away any witches that might be lurking.

Colours to surprise you and which match the heat of the day.

Nautical settings with summer flowers.

And all the time the slap, lap, slap, lap of the water beneath the sheds and around the posts.

This dachsund does not usually swim but this morning he was happy to stand, tummy deep in the warm water

As we both looked out over the view

Titahi Bay today

Here is another beach that I live near. Titahi Bay is a little south of Plimmerton.

Lots of people(and dogs) were enjoying the summer conditions there today.

Dinner at Paekakariki

When the film can split its contents all over the floor at the movie theatre there was no point sitting waiting for the technicians to rectify that disaster. We were not meant to see Les Miserables as we had planned.

A regroup was needed. It was getting closer to dinner time and the evening was sunny and pleasant so we headed up State Highway 1 to Paekakariki to the Fisherman’s Table restaurant. They provide simple fare but their fish is always fresh and pan fried beautifully.

Our table overlooked the sea.

While I was waiting for my main course to arrive I stepped outdoors and took these photos looking out to Kapiti Island (a wonderful wildlife and bird sanctuary) and further north up this lovely coast line.

Plimmerton beach

Plimmerton beach is one of my favourite beaches. I played and swum here as a child and I have lived for more than 20 years in a nearby suburb.

It has a lovely large sandy bay with very safe swimming.

And on some of the sea walls there are quotes from Shakespeare made from old pieces of brick that have washed up on this beach.

Read about those here, here and here.

It also has rocky areas mixed with sand.

It has views across the opening of the Porirua harbour to Whitireia Park.

And around in the next bay there are wee sandy coves and lots of rocks with rock pools to search in.