Christmas Day, 2017, at Kaitarakihi Beach, Bay

Of all the impossibilities I might have imagined during our often sub-zero Michigan Christmas holidays, lazing on a beach and watching our daughter and grandsons splash in a warm ocean would have had to be at the top of the list. And yet, here we are, and there they are.  

This is our tradition now. We drive down to little Kaitarakihi Beach. Allie first found it six years ago and has been coming every year since. The carpark was already jammed when we arrived at about 11:00 a.m. Oh well, Allie found a spot at the very edge. More cars were arriving as we left the lot laden with our beach chairs, chilly bin, and towels and headed for the beach. They'll find a spot too, even if they have to park on the access road. 

To help you get into the right frame of mind for viewing these pictures, listen to this Kiwi take on a popular Christmas song. Then, stroll through the pictures. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQJWKnkDys8

We're in a bay off the west coast so it's a very gentle beach. The boys played in the water till their teeth were chattering. Then, they wrapped up in over-sized towels, sat in the sun and ate lunch. (PB&J sandwiches, chips, cherry tomatoes, blueberries) Can't get much better than that. 

A beautiful little grotto in the cliff. Inside it's got a mini-water fall happening. Take a look...and a listen. I'm amazed that my camera picked up the kids' yells as well as it did. They are quite a distance away. Maybe the grotto's shape allows it to act as an acoustic reflector. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIAmSdnmknw

Fantastic rock formations.

A blooming pohutukawa tree and lush vegetation everywhere

For a while, it seemed as though I had made a new friend. This oystercatcher preceeded me down the beach. I was able to stay quite close to him for some time. He seemed to wait for me at times to catch up. 

I've never seen an intact horse mussel shell before. They're always broken up. 

Every once in a while when I was a kid, I'd take out a box of cowry shells my dad had brought home from the Philippines and play with them. It amazed me that he had once been in a place where these treasures could just be picked up at will. Now, here I am and we have collected over 400 of these beauties. 

A limpet, some tube worm cylinders and a sea fan. 

I just have to include one picture from inside the little cave each time we visit this beach. 

This is just before leaving. 

But before we do, let's take a last look around. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXFnubfJSQU


Heading home....

Here's a speed limit sign for a corner. You knew that that was kilometers per hour didn't you?

We're at the Huia Beach Road Round-a-bout. Don't know what these are. 

I don't think that I've shown you these orange circles before. These are pedestrian crosswalks. Cars must come to a full stop if there are peole waiting to cross. In most places, the roadbed is raised there too, so they act as speed bumps, and cars naturally slow down when approaching them.  

Jeanne worked hard yesterday and did lots of preliminary cooking. A turkey and some kumera have been in the slow cooker since early this morning. I have the potatoes peeled and sitting in salted water on the stove. We plan to have an early dinner before long, and some rhubard crumble for dessert a bit later. 

The adults will have a taste of Bailey's Irish Creme before bedtime.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.       -djf