Now, I have to admit; there was a time when I resisted the idea of carrying a phone, but when Allie got me one anyway and I discovered that it had a map feature on it, I realised how handy such a device could be.
When I saw the beach sign, I popped open my window to the world and sure enough, discovered that I was about two long blocks from Hamilton Beach. Well, I just had to go down there. Despite the substantial slope of the hill and the fact that I'd have to climb back up the thing again. I can't pass up a beach.
Today's post then, will share this very modest beach with all of you. I didn't find any treasures along it. Because it sits in one corner of Auckland's harbor, there is essentially no surf and nothing very interesting had been washed ashore there.
I noticed this view as I crossed a street. The beach is a couple more blocks to the left of the marina.
Jacarandas smell very sweet.
There is no vehicle access to this beach, just a set of stairs.
Mainly sea grass of some sort on the sand. The pohutukawas are blossoming.
That's the Chelsea Sugar Factory across the bay.
I can't help but throw in a few pictures of trees and roots growing out of a cliff face.
There's the Harbor Bridge.
There was a large driftwood log (you can see it in my first picture of the beach) that gave me a place to rest for a few minutes before I began my return climb.
The Ponsonby area has never failed to impress me whenever I have explored it. This beach today was a real surprise and a bonus. I'm sure that there is more to discover yet. You'll be invited to come along. -djf
I examined all these pictures in this post very intensely – especially the trees on the side of the cliffs because they remind me of one iconic picture that Allie posted as her blog cover picture some years ago. I was convinced her picture of cliff-hanging trees was overlooking the Tasman from the Muriwai gannet lookout point, but she told me it was actually taken at a turnout near the Harbor Bridge. I was so intrigued by her picture, I copied it and used it as my desktop background for years! I looked up where exactly Ponsonby and the Harbor Bridge were on my Apple maps and got a fairly good idea distance-and-route wise from Henderson. It still amazes me how many towns, bays, harbors, infrastructure, twists and turns there are concentrated in such a relatively small area.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing I noticed was the pohutakawas and jacarandas all in bloom so I’m guessing you took this particular photo-expedition in spring. Who knew you would be so thoughtful to share it with us as we begin our spring while we’re all shuttered up in our homes and really needed to have that ray of hope!
The pictures were taken before Christmas. I usually have several posts ready to publish at any given time and choose which to put up next based on a number of factors. Whim is probably the main factor. I'm glad to hear though that this post is helpful to you and maybe others during this time.
DeleteWe're lucky here that because of the weather, we can at least get out of the house and go for walks. I did so yesterday and saw lots of people out. No contact being made obviously, but healthful exercise being enjoyed. Win-win.