Around The Mount

Things must be getting desperate when I have no local blog to post. I've been using all my free time to catch up on my "to do" list which had grown in leaps and bounds over the last few months with the knowledge that once we were parked up at Mum & Dads' I could update and download at will, with a free connection to their wi-fi. It also helps not to take too many photos while you're trying to process dozens of folders from the past few months. 

With just a few small things left to do on the van over the weekend, we're getting ready to 'hit the road' again on Monday. Out time in Napier is coming to an end and our feet are getting itchy, it'll be sad to say goodbye but it's time to continue on with our wandering. We also need to make it to the MacKenzie Country by the last week in November, I've missed the mass lupin flowering the last two seasons, this time I'm making sure we will be there.

So, here are a few more photos from our time at the Mount-

These first two are long exposure (1.6sec) shots just before dawn. Long exposure lets more light in and smooths the rough water out. It was quite rough in amongst the rocks with choppy waves bouncing up and over the rocks, you can see remnants of water on the rocks behind. You also need a tripod if you're doing long exposure otherwise it the whole scene would be blurred.

A ship leaves Tauranga Port-

Starting as they mean to go on- daily exercisers begin the steep climb to the top of Mauao (the name given to the extinct volcano cone itself). 

The Red Beacon-

The bulk carrier ship 'Foochow' leaves Tauranga Port-

Different views of Mt Maunganui's Main Beach-

Dawn over Pilot Bay-

Calm before the storm- Pilot Bay ahead of the summer influx-

From the top of Mauao with Karewa Island behind and the Coromandel Penninsula and islands on the horizon. And hats off to the ladies on the summit with their 20kg+ toddlers on their backs! One of them is my daughter-in-law Sophie with grandson Joel, they carted the kids all the way to the top in the carry packs on their backs. That's Maddie and her friend in front.

The iconic view from the top of Mauao- looking down on Mt Maunganui with the Main Beach on the left and Pilot Bay on the right. The camp ground and the salt hot water pools directly below. It's no wonder that this is one of the most popular holiday resorts in New Zealand.