Twilight at the waterfront
Sometimes you just need to take a walk.
Surf and flying sofas.
It was a glorious sunny day in the Wairarapa yesterday, so unsurprisingly we dashed off to the beach as soon as we had stuffed ourselves with a decent brekkie. As my new camera takes videos, I decided to film the sea and share it. Becasue it really is so lovely it needs to be shared. Now these are certainly not Lucasfilm quality clips or anything – but the first one does have the advantage of a surprise appearance of a guy skimming across the water on a tabletop.
I want one of those!
The second one shows the sea a bit closer. I had to take the sound off because by this time the wind was really getting a bit powerful (we were hit with the edge of the cyclone that caused such devastation in Australia). It was jut too noisy and covered the sound of the sea. But you can see just how big some of the waves were – which is just how I like it.
Because the wind was so strong – after you got knocked over by a wave and came up on the other side, the wind was blowing the spray all over us. It was like being in a sea water rainstorm.
Quite spectacular.
And the interesting day didn’t end when we left the beach! On the way back, we were following 2 cars with loaded trailers. We got to a straight bit, and hubby pulled out to overtake and put his foot down. As we came alongside the first car and was about to pull in, a 2 seater sofa in the trailer behind the front car lifted up and out of the trailer and came hurtling towards the spot we were going to pull in to.
And we had the hood down!
Hubby put his foot down some more and got past the guy as I watch the sofa bounce towards the back car (it missed), and we got in front of the still oblivious driver of the front car and got him to stop. He was gobsmacked. And the kids in the back were really impressed with the coolness of the situation. Which to be honest – it really was. I guess I would have thought differently if the sofa had killed my car (or us) but no harm was done, and there was nifty driving from Hubby and the guy behind us.
Life is an adventure somedays.
Like what Avalon has to say?
Click Here to buy Avalon's Guide or Click Here to buy the E-Book
Boxing day in New Zealand: Beach or…
Filed under: Beaches in New Zealand, Life in New Zealand
Shopping?
Apparently, according to the news (so it must be true) boxing day is the busiest shopping day in New Zealand. And given the fact that as we went past the Warehouse in Masterton yesterday on the way to the beach, the carpark was overflowing and all the spaces on the street were full of cars – there does seem to be some truth in this.
One woman interviewed on the news said they had been queuing at Sylvia Park in Auckland since 6.15am. 
Well, sod that.
We headed straight to the beach – no detouring for “sales” and crowds of people. Sun, sand, surf and coffee is what an NZ Boxing Day should be like for me. Chilling with a book and and freezing in the waves. Chomping through a picnic of left over Christmas dinner.
Today, we aren’t actually off to the beach – but there will be no shopping, with a high probability of lots of lounging by the pool, a bit more reading and a swim or two.
Like what Avalon has to say?
Click Here to buy Avalon's Guide or Click Here to buy the E-Book
The beach is open for summer :)
Riversdale today: Lifeguards out on duty and they brought the sun and beautiful turquoise seas with them. And some stellar sandcastle building.
f
Like what Avalon has to say?
Click Here to buy Avalon's Guide or Click Here to buy the E-Book
The unseen Wairarapa Coast
I spend a lot of time at the beach, considering that we actually live about 90 minutes drive away. This is I’m sure not a shock to most people. We have just got back from 4 days away, staying at The Dunes in Riversdale – where we always go. (I an a true believer of the premise: If it ain’t broke – don’t fix it).
However, as the weather was not the greatest (this does not generally bother me – the beach in bad weather is still soothing to the soul), we decided to actually get up off our backsides and go exploring.
So we took a trip further north up the coast to take a look at Matakoina. A local friend of ours has a caravan up there, and had told us it was worth a look. The only reason its taken so long is that – well – we like Riversdale – which defianltely ain’t broke.
So anyway – here’s what we found – the photos don’t really do it justice – but that’s because I’m not a photographer.
That hill is a sand dune believe it or not.
A spectacular rocky beach with waves crashing over the rocks in the distance.
Wish we had room to stick this pet rock in the car 
Rock Pools
Crashing Waves
The Pefect Starter Bach
Really Strange Rock Formations
Looking back (South) towards Castlepoint.
Castlepoint
Castlepoint Lighthouse
And finally – the sun setting at Riversdale.
Like what Avalon has to say?
Click Here to buy Avalon's Guide or Click Here to buy the E-Book
Clean, Green, 100% Pure – Sewage :(
North and South has an interesting editorial this month, about the fact that even though there really hardly anyone living in New Zealand – we have an appalling problem with sewage pollution.
It may look sparkling clean over here in the photos, but its not. Not by a long shot. Our beaches – lovely though are – are apparently full of crap. Masterton council wants to discharge effluent into the local Ruamahunga river. Children swim in it in the summer. Riversdale beach – by favourite spot – has such a problem with antiquated sewage systems that every house will have to convert their system to the new reed bed sewage system. As soon as the council makes up its mind to build it (10years an counting) – until then – the beach stays polluted.
The article concentrates on the sheer unadulterated stupidity of Horowhenua District Council, who spent a whopping $10,000,000 on sparkling new “environmentally friendly” council offices. And have just pleaded guilty to dumping 8.5 million litres of sewage into the local river.
Classy!
This is the tip of the iceberg, and sooner or later people do actually twig that the “100% pure” slogan is just that – a Marketing Slogan. Why New Zealand gets to practice misleading advertising practices and gets away with it is beyond me – but I guess countries are not subject to fair trade laws.
So just be clear when moving here – we have awful sewage problems, and our beaches rivers and lakes are actually quite polluted. One thing they are not is Clean, green or 100% pure. Sometimes it feels like the only thing that stops the country being 100% Sludge is the fact that theres so few people living here.
You can get copies of North&South at Kiwifruits in London. We actully used to get it frequently before we moved out here, and it was really helpful in seeing some of the real life that goes on over here. Its not all fluff!
Like what Avalon has to say?
Click Here to buy Avalon's Guide or Click Here to buy the E-Book
Views of Riversdale (for Sarah)
Looking North up the beach towards Castlepoint.
The sun rising over the sea.
The beach at dusk
The Crowds at the Beach on Boxing Day – one of the busiest days of the year.
Clouds Over Riversdale
When we stay overnight – we stay at The Dunes, owned by a very friendly lady called Caroline. It sits literally just behind the Dunes – one minute and you are on the beach. Theres no cooker, but there is a Microwave and small barbie. It a lovely little place, and really relaxing.
Like what Avalon has to say?
Click Here to buy Avalon's Guide or Click Here to buy the E-Book
Why I love Riversdale Beach.
I decided to pop over to Riversdale Beach on Friday – as a way of dealing with extreme Immigration Stress. There really is nothing better for me than staring at the sea with a take away coffee. It also helped that it was a stunning day, and the sea was a beautiful turquoise colour.
Well, we went back today, because hubby really also needed a day out, and if we stayed at home we would find things “to do”. So off we toddled.
As usual, we got the beach, and the very first thing we did was head to the shop for the much needed coffee.
Where they still had my EftPOS card from Friday – sat there waiting. Apparently they had assumed I was coming back for a second coffee on Friday. Which I guess at the very least suggest I’m a “regular” now if they remember that I usually do get another one for the drive home.
It’s a good job I didn’t need the card this weekend.
So thanks to Brownie at the Riversdale store, for not laughing at me too hard, and keeping my card safe.
Like what Avalon has to say?
Click Here to buy Avalon's Guide or Click Here to buy the E-Book
Beach report – Riversdale 26th July
Since one of our favoured past times since we got to NZ is bumming around on the beach, I figured it was time to start an ongoing series of beach reports.
So today, having spent weeks working our butts off with a variety of issues, I decided it was time to take a day out and head to Riversdale.
So, I can report today that;
1. The beach was busy – there was at least 20 people I saw on the beach while we were there
2. It was bloody cold! Fortunately the wind wasn’t strong enough to whip up sand into the face, it was still darn cold requiring a blanket to sit on the beach despite the glorious sunshine.
3. The waves were pretty shallow, and not that huge or choppy. And there was no one in the water, not even the singular hardy surfer.
4. It looks like there has been some storm erosion of the dunes, which means that instead of the nice slopes going down to the beach proper. The dunes are like they have had a slice taken off, just like the slips on the side of hills pouring mud down onto roads, rail tracks etc.
Still, it was gloriously sunny and the air was fresh, so we felt quite relaxed while we were there.
Being able to head to the beach is one of those things which helped Avalon with the home sickness. While I was never much of a beach person in the UK – lack of swimming ability being one area of caution – I’ve grown to really enjoy being at the beach. On honeymoon we started touring round some of the beaches, and I rather enjoy being in the choppy waves at Riversdale now.
Another water baby converted by NZ’s beaches.
Autumn colours
We took a trip to riversdale today – here are some of the amazing colours we saw:
Autum trees on the way to the beach
Sunset on the way home
Sunset a minute later
Like what Avalon has to say?
Click Here to buy Avalon's Guide or Click Here to buy the E-Book
Avalon’s Guide On Facebook
-
