Beach Bums

After leaving the Woodbridges in Taupo, we drove leisurely north, skirting Rotarua, and arrived at Dormers, the beach house in Whangamata (properly pronounced fanga-ma-TA), about 5 p.m. Dumping our luggage inside, we eagerly topped the small dune out back for a first look at the sea. The view, bathed in the late afternoon sun, exceeded our expectations! Here is Frank enjoying it from our 'private' bench, about twenty steps from the house.


Dormers has two completely self-contained apartments, upstairs and downstairs. We have the downstairs (two bedrooms) and at present the top floor is vacant--Sally and John's son and his family are expected for Thursday to Sunday this week. The other houses along the beach look like serious money, and I think we are very lucky indeed to be staying here right on the shore.



This morning I got up early, hoping to catch the sunrise over the ocean, but it was so cloudy that I got this moody blue view instead. Still beautiful.



Later in the morning, however, the sun came out and transformed the view, causing the beach daisies to open their tangerine eyes. I took a walk to the south, and discovered why the water seemed to be strangely turbulent at that point--the beach curves out of sight and becomes the banks of a fast-flowing river.






Between the tides, the current, and the wave action, the impression is of water dancing in all directions!



The shags enjoy the rocks along the river for drying their wings between fishing dives.


I also came upon these funny wading birds, looking like serious gentlemen in their black coats, but with long, thin, startlingly scarlet beaks. I'll have to try to find out what they are called.



Tonight the clouds have rolled back in, but perhaps it will clear by morning. If so, we plan a round trip to see both sides of the Coromandel Peninsula. Although it is less than 200k by road, it will probably take us all day--between the shoreline and the central mountain range, the road will be sure to have what Frank calls 'the wigglies'!