Christmas Day, 2023, at Kaiterakihi Beach

 

Our Christmas Day forecast was for rain. Possibly heavy rain; as in, pouring, bucketing, or cats-and-dogs-ing. Fortunately, the outlook turned out to be exaggerated (I think the interns were left in charge of the weather service again that holiday) and what we experienced instead was an overcast day. 

Well, true, we did get some rain, but later, and of a misty, moisty, or a pitter-pattering sort of sprinkle instead. 

The bottom line is that we did make it out to our traditional Christmas Day beach, thanks to Allie. Its name is Kaiterakihi Beach. Kai means food in Maori and terakihi is a species of fish. (I may have told you that before.) It's located just about a kilometer this side of the Huia Beach overlook. 

Allie originally discovered this smallish, secluded beach when she was on an outing with Amiri and Arram. It is shallow for a long ways out and has gentle surf, both perfect for frolicking in by very little boys.  

Since then, we've been back most years. Once we brought Dianne, during her third visit to NZ.  

Today's post will have a somewhat drabber look than it deserves due to the aforementioned weather, but our spirits were high.  We were missing Amiri of course, who is off on his traditional Kiwi OE, or overseas experience, and living in Chicago with his other grandparents while he tries out an American high school.  We had spent quite some time on Christmas morning skyping with him as we opened presents and he was with us in spirit as we strolled along the sand.  

At 14, Arram is already taller than his Mom. 

Jeanne is heading down the beach. The tide is going out and you can see how sparsely populated it is today.  

Now, you tell me, do those look like downpour clouds? 

Another thing about this beach is that it's quiet.  Surf makes a surprising amount of sound and as you can see, this has very little of that.  Very peaceful.  

We're looking toward the opening to the Tasman Sea. There is a lighthouse on top of the headland on the left of the harbor channel.  Rather hard to see because it's 6 km away.  

Before we came home, we took a quick look from the Huia Overlook along the length of the harbor. 

In the interest of fairness, I must conclude this post by including a picture of this Christmas rose. You'll notice that it is wet.  The precipitation that was forecast (by those interns) did finally arrive, although it did so like fog reportedly does, on little cat feet.  - C. Sandburg           -djf