A PAINTING

On Friday, when we arrived here,  we did a little shopping.

We went into the best gift shop/art gallery in town (Mosaic) and had a good look around.

I spied a painting, and fell in love with it.

But... I didn't want to 'IMPULSE' buy, so said I'd go back on Sunday if I really wanted it, and get it then.

I took a photo (with the shop owner's permission), so I could look at it and ponder if I really loved it enough to buy it.

ABOVE:  TWO... HOURS... LATER - on Friday.

Yeah, I just had to get it.  Stew agreed.  It's totally our sort of painting.

Best thing was... it's done by a local artist, so it felt good to support local.

ABOVE: This is the painting.

What do you think of it?  It's certainly NOT going to be everyone's cuppa tea.

But it's ours.

ABOVE:  I found two of these beach towels, we will use them as throws on our outdoor furniture at home.  They were half price, so that made them even more desirable!  😉😊

ABOVE:  The inside of our car... anyone would think we were at a beach eh?  

ABOVE:  Beach face, beach hair, don't care.  Scruffy but HAPPY.

After ten years of not visiting Whitianga, we have come to the conclusion it's gone from an average but pleasant little sea side town, with no frills or graces, to a much more 'upmarket' version of itself.

ABOVE:  Everything has been smartened up, redone, upsized even.  

There is a gorgeous new children's playground.

Boardwalks.  Sea walls.  A bigger Ferry. 

And so on.  

It's like Whitianga got a 'RENOVATION'.

It's nice, but a bit strange too.

ABOVE:  That's the 'new' Ferry.  It goes from Whitianga to the other side of the estuary, connecting people who live or are staying 'on the other side'.  

The other side has Front Beach, Flaxmill Bay, Cooks Beach, Hot Water Beach etc.

Today we shall take the ferry across, and walk to Front Beach.  It's not that far to walk, except for the bloody hill.

But, I've done that hill many, many times before, so I'm sure it will be just fine.

After that we will meander our way home again.

That MIGHT involve going via Coromandel, or back the way we came.  We've not decided on that yet.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO YOU ALL!

...

ABOVE: Stew buying our Ferry tickets.  On our way to 'the other side'.

ABOVE:  Crossing the estuary on the ferry.

It's about a 2.5 minute trip!

ABOVE:  Looking back at the wharf, much changed from 20 years ago, and even more so from 50 years ago when I first started going to Whitianga as a kid.

ABOVE:  There was this boat on the wharf, getting a marlin weighed.

My Dad fell off this wharf and drowned 20 years ago... and I felt it was a bit twisted that the boat's name was "UNDERTAKER".

Like... really!  

ABOVE:  Front Beach.  We both love this beach.  It's so pretty, with stunning views of Mercury Bay and the Shakespeare Cliffs.

ABOVE:  Back waiting for the Ferry ... such a gorgeous little bay.

We are on the road home, via Whangamata and Waihi.

4.41 pm:  We have been home about 90 minutes.  Time to unpack and have a swim to cool off.  It's about 30 degrees today.  Kinda hot.

I took a few photos of Whangamata beach and Waihi Beach, but will 'save' them for tomorrow.  There is plenty on today's post already.

ABOVE:  Red sky at night, Sailor's delight... and our sky is bullshitting us!  Our forecast for tomorrow is for RAIN... all day.

And I hope like hell it does rain!   It's been too damn hot and dry lately.

I am going to bed early tonight.  It's been a busy few days.