Monday, December 28, 2020

PLEASANT WALK

A bit of a shock as we were woken at 4 a.m. by the phone ringing.  It was a cousin from Canada who had her times a bit muddled.  Anyway, once I was fully awake we had a lovely chat.  I managed to get back to sleep and we woke at 7.30 a.m. which was not too bad.

No Parkinson walk planned for today however four of us decided to go on a walk and met at the Tikipunga Sports Park.  We walked across the park and to the Whangarei Falls then down beside the Falls and back up the other side.  We then stopped for a coffee from the coffee cart there before heading back.  

The Falls are only a ten minute walk from home and we were amazed at the number of people and vehicles there.  Apparently, there were even more yesterday.  When we arrived we walked across a grass area and there were tape fences across it.  By the time we finished our walk this area was a car park filling up.

Anyway, it is an official Parkinson Walk next week so we decided to do the same again as the coffee was good and it is a pleasant walk.  Those that are capable can go down to the bottom of the Falls and those that want can wait at the top and get their coffee.

First Doug's photos taken with his camera.  He could not resist the hole in a sculpture to take photos in both directions




Some of the people there although as we went across the bridge and down beside the waterfall we passed bus loads of people.






Photos taken on my phone.  The waterfall is 26.3 metres high so there is a nicely placed seat on the way back up to the top of the Falls.  (or way down depending on which way you go)





This Puriri Tree is obviously extremely old.


Looks a bit dark in this photo but the overflow car park is filling up.



Back on the other side of the road walking around the park


We then went to the Supermarket which was quite full but not too bad.  We got through checkout quite quickly.

Home for lunch and the temperature dropped and we got some hail.  Sun out again now and Doug has gone to town to do some shopping while I write this and get the rubbish ready to go out.

12 comments:

  1. I would have enjoyed that walk. The pool beneath the falls looks perfect for a swim too.

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    1. It was a perfect day for it as the temperature only reached 21 degrees.

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  2. When I visited the Falls last year it was difficult to find a carpark. It is a lovely place to visit and the walk you made sounds great.

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    1. I didn't realise you came that close to home (1.3 kms).

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  3. It is great to see so many out and about, as we enter lockdown for a month.

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  4. Oh my, how I hate those phone calls in the middle of the night. Glad to read that it was just a mistake in time.

    Lovely walk and lovely pictures.

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    1. I must admit I am not at my bet at 4 a.m. Never mind, it was great to catch up on news once I was fully awake.

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  5. The falls look beautiful. I would imagine this park would be very popular and crowded.

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    1. Yes, we were lucky as the crowds were just arriving as we left. We are lucky to have several waterfalls nearby.

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  6. Strangely enough it has been very quiet here, hardly any traffic and people, we thought it would be mad.

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    1. That's odd - I thought it would be really busy there. Shops in town not too bad at all this morning.

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