Run away with me

Last week I ran away with my lover... I can't remember the last time Traveler and I ran away together. And then we FLEW back together ON THE SAME plane. Traveler and I have piloted planes. We've traveled. We've even been in the same small plane together. But I can't think of the last time we flew on the same jet and sat next to each other - we have this habit of flying separately and going our separate ways until we reunite.

Anyway, the coromandel is an amazing place.
This is at least my 3rd trip and if I lived closer I'd go every month.
I just love walking the beaches and seeing the views and exploring the bits that are forest.


THE DRIVE:
NEARBY BEACH



with a lady walking her dog and using the leash as a way to drag her sandals behind her!

Then we walked up a hill in a town which I think started with a T. Yes, it was that kind of weekend. We just drove around chatting until it was decided that we should stop to explore. I have next to no idea where I was most of the time.



And of course more driving
And the obligatory trip down to cathedral cove

Auckland

Auckland isn't my favourite city... yes, I've said it.

But that said, it lends it self to amazing moments. Yes I don't like the city business nor some of the attitudes I bump into there or the suburban sprawl feel... but is so close to so many amazing places - like Piha, the Coromandel, and wow ferry rides.

But this last trip I went for a walk on along the Point Chev beach at night and then headed to the city where everyone was oggling the city hall light display. Lights were projected on the building in a way that used the structure's shape to enhance the display.



It also is a place where olives just grow.
You can also watch the planes taking off and landing from the side of the road in the designated parking lot for this activity... just don't litter because that is feeding birds and that is bad for planes
Don't get me wrong, Auckland isn't that bad.. just my book has some stiff competition in it already between Melbourne, Boston, Portland, and Wellington

Mother's Day

This Sunday Traveler got me out of bed... and took me to the water. It was such a gorgeous day with the full moon still above the horizon and the water as still as it could be. By 9 am the winds had turned southerly and all hope of rowing was shot for the next few days, but just before then Traveler and I rowed round and round in circles while the getting was good.

Signs

Sometimes you see something and you just know its a sign.. the tricky thing is that you turn it, squeeze, it mold and deform it into a sign of whatever you want but haven't yet decided to believe in yet.

No idea what this is a sign of... but it was pretty special. It probably wasn't a sign to go to a disco with children and be painted like a mouse and then read books by torchlight while having the illustrations photographed... but that was a very good way to spend my Friday.

I highly recommend looking for signs to spend your Friday night at an 80's disco and then read books with bright fun kids. Or at the very least misinterpretting other signs so that you get to go do the fun stuff anyway:)

How do you measure the days...

I've been listening to the theme song to Rent a lot lately. Originally it reminded me of road trips with my club volleyball team at Northwestern. Driving through the midwest to find small out of the way gyms at various Big Ten universities .

Then it reminded me of some of the harder parts of last year and how I was counting the days until I could journey into parenthood.

Today, well all that seems a really long time ago. Today I measure my days with weather forecasts and by checking my new favourite site.

Here is a sample of my morning hit today.
I think it has scenic value even if you aren't trying to guess whether its rowable. It also shows how the days are clearly getting shorter here. Tonight I was rowing in the dark at 6 pm.

Day out with the boys

Today my favourite young boys took me and Traveler out for an adventure. There was an amazing river to play in with the strangest pale green water. I just loved the water....The big boys played with a fly fishing rod. I really ought to give that a go sometime soon. But I think it could be as addictive as rowing - which still eats up most of my time - and one is wise to limit the number of obsessions at a time I reckon.
And of course there were many many birds to feed.


And this beast which somehow was connected to Lord of the Rings (so many things here are - though some really stretch it)....