Where does the time go

It is now a week since we went to the Far North to visit some of my friends there, all elderly, the oldest being 94 and still living on her own.  .

Anyway, Wednesday last week was WET but the forecast was for an improvement so we headed off reasonably early on Thursday morning leaving Doug's lab, Sophie at the kennels on the way.  (She didn't even give him a backward glance as she bounded in).

We had some showers and then it cleared with low cloud in the valleys.  Going over the Mangamuka's we were up in the clouds and as we went down Victoria Valley into Kaitaia the sun shone and we had a wonderful couple of days.

We did the visiting that I wanted in Kaitaia.  When we arrived at the home of the 94 year old lady there was the smell of freshly baked bread.  It was nearly ready to come out of the breadmaker. I quickly pointed out that I was gluten free before she had the chance to offer it to me and she then told us that the last person she offered a loaf to took it and she  had to bake herself another one.

We  had a delicious lunch at the Beachcomber Restaurant before heading to Waitangi as I had booked a night at the Copthorne Hotel.  It was very comfortable and the meals delicious with an excellent breakfast consisting of lots of fruit both fresh and stewed with gluten free bread, cheese and ham.  A cooked breakfast was also available.

We then headed back to Kerikeri where I browsed the "Op Shops" and visited another friend for a cuppa after having lunch at the gluten free cafe.

Home just in time to pick Sophie up from the Kennels.

It was only two days but I felt refreshed for the break.

                                         Clouds in the valleys as we headed north

                                        Boats moored near the hotel at Waitangi

                                  

                                       A hang glider in the distance

                                             and closer up

 We then headed past the Waitangi Treaty grounds and golf course and took the back road to Haruru Falls

                                                 Haruru Falls

                 where there were some very friendly ducks

                               Smaller falls near my friends' house in Kerikeri