SIXTY DAYS TO GO!

 

Another good night's sleep... and today is a day off travelling.

We will potter around Gisborne, take in the  shops, and the scenery.

ABOVE:  The countdown continues.  It is slowly going by.  Two months to go.

Right, time to get up and start our day here.

1.36 pm.  We have been out and about all morning.

Shops.  Beach. Scenery. 

We are not into visiting wineries, walking and cycling tracks, historic places, etc.  

We just like doing little drives around the area.

Which we did.

ABOVE: Our first stop was the Marina.  It's not too big.

ABOVE:  OMG, I'd kill to have that on me front lawn!  Talk about a massive rusty bit. And an anchor to boot.

ABOVE:  Last night we watched the first ship in the row being loaded with logs.  This morning it had tug boats around it, being readied to be guided out of the dock, and off on it's way.

ABOVE: We went up this lookout hill...

ABOVE:  A very pretty drive up... and LOTS of people walking up and down the lookout hill.

There were also plenty of walking tracks through the bush.

ABOVE:  I stumbled on this plaque.  Special.  I loved Princess Diana.

ABOVE: The view was worth it.

NOT that we walked up that friggin hill!  

ABOVE:  The logging ship being guided out into the harbour.

ABOVE:  Lovely views from the top of the lookout.  I feel like the sky was prettier.

ABOVE:  One logging ship leaving, and top left, one waiting to come in.

ABOVE:  I bought ONE piece of fabric here in Gisborne.  Because a) they had bugger all patchwork fabric, and b) it was up to $39.50 a metre!

No thank you.

ABOVE:  We drove out to Midway Beach, which was really just a continuation of the main beach out from Gisborne.

ABOVE: The entire shoreline is littered with wood and driftwood.  It was messy. 

ABOVE: We have gathered a few pieces of driftwood here and there, for a future project.

ABOVE:  A little rotunda on the Waimata River, down by the main shopping street.

ABOVE: We had lunch at The Rivers Restaurant and Bar, right beside the main road and river.  It was amazing how many logging trucks, both fully loaded and empty drove past.  On their way to the port, or out again.

Eastland Port is the second biggest logging port in New Zealand.

ABOVE:  Lunch/dinner.  Very nice, chips were very average though.

We are now back at the motel to do this update (it takes up to an hour to do this), then we might wander out again.

5 pm:  We went out for another little tiki tour around the area.

We ended up at Wainui Beach first.

ABOVE:  A rickety little boardwalk to get down to the beach.

It is a very long surf beach.

ABOVE:  A local resident, he didn't bat an eye at me.

EVERYBODY LOOK TO THE LEFT...

EVERYBODY LOOK TO THE RIGHT...

And now you have seen Wainui Beach!

ABOVE: Wainui Beach Surf Lifesaving Club.

It's a very exposed beach, so no doubt needs that facility.

ABOVE:  Memento of Wainui Beach.  The driftwood sucked on this beach.

After that beach, we drove out to Sponge Bay Beach.  

ABOVE: Sponge Bay Beach was totally closed off to the public due to some very significant slips.  It was rather dangerous.

ABOVE: A lovely little island easily seen from Sponge Bay Beach.

If I didn't like shops so much, I'd love to live on me own little island.

ABOVE:  NOW.  In case you are sick to the back teeth of beaches!  I give you cows.  Cos I can.

They were smelly.  Just so you can appreciate the effort I took.  😂😉😊

7.20 pm. Sitting in bed watching the telly. About to send Stew out for some nibbles... Catch ya tomorrow.