Ah, I think this will be a rather long series since you’d know by now my fondness of food (and food photography). Let’s start off with baked goods, and the wonders of scones.
Nothing better than a freshly baked batch of scones lashed with lightly whipped cream and jam. Fortunately it’s also one of the easiest and quickest baking you can ever do. Perhaps I will bake a batch this weekend?
We walked along the beach and back again. By then the sun was very low on the horizon, casting a golden glow over everything it touched. The end of another lovely day, and the end of this theme.
There was a little breeze that afternoon, and the parasailers took advantage of it. However with the low tide, the sailer was reduced to walking on the sand bars.
There were lengthy shadows galore on the beach that afternoon. This is mine.
Walking along Umina Beach, you’re guaranteed an encounter with at least one fisher-person along the way. This is because it sits at the entrance of Brisbane Waters, and gets lots of marine life coming its way. There were a few lines being cast on this particular afternoon, so walking the beagle proved to be a bit of a challenge – she loves sniffing out and stealing bait!
We’re back at Umina Beach on a much clearer afternoon to our last visit. Hardly a cloud in the sky, and apart from the usual dog walkers and fisher-people, there were also plenty of swimmers and paddlers on this glorious afternoon.
We’ll finish off with a view of the hamlet and the surrounding countryside from Rangikapiti Pa. A Pa is an ancient Maori hill fort. This one in the middle of Doubtless Bay, is very strategic indeed.
Aside from fishing, Mangonui Harbour and Doubtless Bay is a great place for sailing, and there were quite a few sailing boats moored too.
That’s all from NZ for now. The next post will be from much closer to home.
Near the wharf was this oddity of a house on stilts. It might have absolute waterfrontage, but one hopes that the sea levels don’t rise too much in the future.
I might not be too steady on the water (I get seasick very, very easily), but I do like to look at boats. These dinghies may be stock-standard, but whitewashed and upturned by the blue water they are absolutely picturesque.
Given that Mangonui has thriving fishery, one would expect to find great fish and chips there. Enter the Mangonui Fish Shop, which I’m told is the best fish shop in town. Unfortunately it was rather too early for fish and chips, although the congregating seagulls have different ideas.
Static and Silence 