Monday's Parkinson walk to Raumanga Falls

It has been, and still is, hot and humid here.  On Monday the Parkinson's walking group met at the Information Centre and walked through the park and up the track through the bush to the Raumanga Falls then on to have a look at the new dam which was just a large wall from that side (no photo).

The dam is to hold rainwater and then release it slowly to (hopefully) avoid flooding the CBD.

The trees make it look a lot cooler than it actually was.

A vew of the waterfall through the bush.

Many of us sat at the top of the falls and watched this young man diving.  His dog is in the water below him.

We met the young man earlier picking up discarded bottles while walking his dog and having a swim,

Here he is just surfacing with his dog beside him.

Parkinson's Walking Group visited Pataua South

It felt like spring yesterday as we drove out to Pataua South for our Monday Parkinson's walk.  We walked along the beach (some going on around by the camping ground and back behind the houses).

We took drinks and eats with us and had them at one of the many tables set out along the beach then walked across the bridge to Pataua North and had a short walk there before returning to Whangarei.

The bike riding is coming on well.  Feel a bit more secure and not quite so wobbly now.  I suppose 55 years is quite a long time!!!

SUNSHINE

This morning our weekly Parkinson's walk was on the road around the airport at Onerahi.  The weather was perfect.  Just wonderful after weeks of rain.

To keep the warmth in during winter Doug installed a couple of cat flaps on internal doors for me.  One between the living and sleeping areas and the other (below) between the laundry (where the cat flap going outside is situated) and the hall.

The magnets on the flaps were quite strong and I found the noise of the cats coming and going in the night a bit much so Doug removed the flaps for me.  It still keeps the warmth in but is silent.

This is the face that greeted me when I went into the hall this morning.  Kath was in the laundry looking into the hall.

Parkinson Walk Town Basin 30th September 2013

Today, we started our walk at the Town Basin - the lady in front is from the Press as there is to be an article in one of the local papers about our group.  It started off sunny although rain was forecast.

 As we started our walk we saw some very small ducklings.  They were too fast and I only got one in the photo.

We then had a quite heavy shower just before the halfway point of our walk and Doug walked back with one of the group who was not feeling very well.

We found some shelter and the shower passed quite quickly.  I was surprised to come across these geese on the riverbank.

Work has started on the new footbridge which will make  this a better walk as it will be more off road.

I even came across a small patch of bluebells

R. Tucker Thompson and Parkinson Walk

We are having typical spring weather at present - Saturday night was a violent storm in which the house shook with every clap of thunder.  Saturday itself had been a pleasant day and we had taken Sophie for a walk at Onerahi along the old Railway route, a walk we have done with the Parkinson group.  The weather was fine.

On Sunday the tall ship R. Tucker Thompson see here was at the Whangarei Town Basin.  I had woken with vertigo but luckily it had eased  and we went down to see her.  It was good to see a lot of people at the wharf.

Today was another lovely day and we walked along the Hatea River at Mair Park with the Parkinson Group.  I am still taking medication for the vertigo but am feeling a lot better.  Now we have a weather warning for strong winds and rain tomorrow afternoon and night.  A deep subtropical low is approaching from the north.

Anyway here are a few photos from the past couple of days and, as you can see, yesterday was just beautiful.

I just don't know where the time goes.  I seem to be continually behind in all the jobs that need doing.

Parkinson's Walk to Whangarei Falls.

This is a walk we haven't done for a while and after the recent rain the falls were flowing well.

 

 All the mist in the following photo is spray from the falls.  It was really quite wet even at a distance.

A vase of NSW Waratah's from Doug's garden - they are in a vase made by the brother of a friend.

Parkinson Walk 5 August - Te Matau a Pohe Bridge

Margaret, who organises the Parkinsons' Walks seems to have a direct link to the Weather Man and once again after a couple of days of rain we had a perfect day.

We started at the Town Basin and crossed the river to walk along Riverside Drive to the new Bridge, over it and back on the streets the other side.  Next year there will be a footbridge leading back to the park by the Wave and Waka making a shorter and more pleasant walk.

Yesterday, I went back to the Asthma exercise group that I used to attend.  I stopped going nearly a year ago.  Doug came as well as he was keen to get back to exercising. After visiting Max we then took Sophie for a walk from Whareora Road through the bush.  We haven't walked her for a while as she was having trouble with one of her legs.

After not much exercise for a while I have a very pleasant tiredness at present.

                                     The Wave and Waka Sculpture from across the river

 Looking back towards the Town Basin.  The river coming from the left is the one that will have the footbridge.

Parkinson Walk - Monday 24th - A.H. Reed Park to Whangarei Falls

Another fine morning for our walk which culminated as usual with coffee and a chat.  More water over the falls now that the rains have started.

 If you magnify the following photo and look carefully there is a man in red at the bottom left of the waterfall.