Lake Tutira

Water like a mirror.

We drove from Napier north to Gisborne today. On the map it looks quite a short journey (I know it depends on the scale of the map!!), but it took ages as we travelled up and around the hillsides, through minimally populated areas.

We passed the wineries, apple and soft fruit growers, then moved on to the cattle, sheep, goats, horses and a few red deer. The landscape is greener here than it was in the top end of South Island.

The roads are much narrower, but long stretches are being upgraded and widened.

As we got closer to Gisborne there was considerable logging, reforestation and big log transporters on the road. When we got here and saw the dock, we realised that timber if a major export from the port.

The motel that we are staying at is about 100 yrds from Wainui beach, so on a late afternoon walk I made friends with a 7 month old Vizsla puppy who was playing on the beach, with an adult Rhodesian Ridgeback and their owner, a young man from Essex who now lives over here and loves the life.

I tried to get the puppy to sit so as to take a photograph and he obliged nicely!! Unfortunately he sat on my feet and looked up as if to say “was that what you wanted?” Not the easiest position for a shot, but good for a laugh!!