Man and the sea

Excitement in the adjacent apartment last evening. Gas was smelled, and did we also. No. Come and see if we are right. Yes. Gas people called. "Either we turn it all (the whole building) off or I call the Fire Brigade NOW." Last I heard gas fitters are still trying to find the source of the leak.

Spent the morning reading an agenda, then went for a midday run down to Westhaven Marina, which lies in a quiet corner of the harbour bounded on two sides by the approach motorway from the south to the Auckland Harbour Bridge. It is actually walking distance from the central city. The sun was bright (intermittently, but certainly was when I took this), evidence the sparkles on the rippling water. It really was quite windy, but the breakwaters kept the effects minor within the marina.

The bridge is clearly seen beyond the masts. The strength of the wind can be gauged by the absence of flags on the two flagpoles at the top of the arch. Flags are there except in the strongest winds.

The sea has been controlled here by the creation of the marina, and also by the bridge crossing over the harbour. The yachts are also an indication of an attempt to control the sea; rather more dangerous. The land on which I stood to take this picture is further evidence of humans controlling the sea; it is reclaimed land, or (more correctly) filled in sea.

A really pleasant run and I enjoyed the sight of a young mother and her toddler, complete with pushchair on an otherwise empty beach close by here.