Version 2.0

Right...... it's time to re-boot this blog.

This blogging software sucks....you spend hours arranging text blocks and pictures only to find that when you publish it, it looks nothing like your compose post screen. WTF?  Trying to layout photos is enough to send you insane. Whoever designed this software should be taken around to the back of the Google mirror glass headquarters and shot. Rant over.

On the Beach

Another Summer has rolled past. Normally summer is filled with swimming, surfing, sailing and evenings spent on the beach. This year was different. Life has a habit of constantly changing but sometimes we get so wrapped up in the daily grind it can come as a surprise how much things have changed .Everybody seems to be busy now, busier than ever. Friends who would always be up for an adventure are now tied to family and business commitments. Girlfriends, bosses and customers have always been there off course but now they are joined by wives, children and mortgage payments and companies. Luckily everybodys health is good and in general, everybody in good spirits but there is that lack of time now to do the things we used to do.  The other reason this summer was different was the weather. It was without a doubt the worst I can remember and the general consensus is that we have been robbed of our best season. The forecast for the Easter long weekend was not good, but as it turned out, completely wrong. Several things occured in the fashion of stars aligning. I traded an old Toyota Hilux 4WD, Glenn came into posession of a Suzuki jeep, nobody had to work, the sun came out, the tides on the west coast were favourable......a beach trip was in the making.

 The west coast of Auckland is an long stretch of unspoiled nature, crashing surf, windswept beaches, tall cliffs, forests and sand dunes. There are a number of beaches, all with their own character, which are popular with surfers, artists, fishermen and daytrippers from the city. Piha is the best known and gets all the fame and glory with its elietist surf club and their TV show but, for me at least, Muriwai beach is the definative west coast beach. Muriwai is a special place. 50Kms in length, the beach is a endless empty stretch backing onto the Woodhill forest. The best thing is that theres enough space for everyone to surf, swim, fish, ride horses or mountain bikes, kite surf or just lie in the sun without bothering anyone else. I have even seen someone land a small airplane on the beach. For us however the main reason we come here lies at the far northern end of the beach. Here at the entrance to the Kaipara harbour is the old Kaipara weapons range. It's a wilderness of sand, water and wind with towering dunes and thick forest which the air force use as a practice area for dropping bombs out of airplanes. Now, seeing as we don't really have an air force thats capable of dropping anything these days, it's become a mecca for off road vehicles...a huge 4WD playground

 

 


 So...Sunday was the choosen day. Kids and wives were loaded into trucks and we rolled onto the beach at midday, just after the high tide. When driving on the beach wind and tide must be observed carefully. Theres no where to run if you get it wrong and the beach has claimed many vehicles over the years. At the right phase of the tide the sand just above the surf line is firm and can be driven on with ease. Just watch for waves sweeping in and soft spots that can take you from 80km/h to stopped in just a few metres. It takes about 45 mins to travel from the crowded south end to the lagoon at the extreme North end of the beach. theres no road access here and the only people you will see have come here by off road vehicles.

 Lunch was eaten and sand castles built by the lagoon. A little foray into the soft sand dunes resulted in a recovery operation as the Hilux is not really setup for these conditions but great fun was had by all.