Everybody's Gone Surfing...

We've had a couple of days of rain (I know, I can hear you getting out your tiny violins) and were feeling a bit of cabin fever, so despite a continuing drizzle, we decided to take the advice of a new colleague at the local polytechnic and explore the town of Raglan, on the west coast about an hour from Hamilton. We somehow missed a turn at a roundabout in Hamilton and wound up thoroughly lost (which happens surprisingly infrequently on our travels). Then the drizzle became a torrent and we almost gave up and turned back towards Cambridge. However, suddenly our missed turn appeared again, and we determined to carry on westward. We were very soon glad we had. As we crossed through a range of tall hills, a beautiful valley opened up before us, the clouds broke, and the sun came dazzling through.

The town of Raglan is charming, filled with boutiques and cafes catering to the summer surfing crowd. We had a good early dinner at the Harbour View Hotel, and then headed out to see the surfing beaches. The first place we stopped provided fabulous panoramic views. Note the teeny tiny jogger in the first pic, and the strollers in the second, for scale.

Determined to see the surfing closer up, we carried on to a second beach road. Here, the black volcanic boulders piled up at the water's edge create fabulously dramatic wave patterns. The rock and soil combinations are so evocative of recent volcanic activity that you almost wonder if the lava is still flowing beneath your feet. However, the shore plants are already clothing the rough rocks, turning them inexorably into black sand.

We were pretty impressed with the surfers, but could see that they were struggling to get past the breakers to be able to ride the biggest waves


One intrepid surfer decided to brave the rocks nearest us to attempt to bypass the rolling surf and get out into the water beyond. I feared he would be dashed against the rocks, but he timed his leap perfectly, and was soon paddling out to sea.

Soon another younger lad tried and succeeded, and then a bevy of girls!


Well, that wouldn't do, and shortly ALL the young men were showing off their ability to dare the rocky launch. Pretty thrilling to watch, but, boys and girls, don't even think of trying this at home!!


We reluctantly left the pounding surf to the youngsters and headed home under a now brilliant sky.