‘Surfer Girls’
After the storm on Sunday at Mangawhai Heads, the sun broke through the following day and the waves became less messy.
With that, two intrepid surfer girls made ready to challenge the ocean.
Camaraderie and anticipation; clean breaks, churn and spray awaiting the pair.
.
‘Made For Storms’
Sunday kicked up stormy conditions in Mangawhai Heads.
The Pacific Ocean was far from pacific, and Sentinel Rock wore the force of the lashing nor-westerly wind and smashing waves.
The Rock is beautiful when it is calm, but is truly made for storms.
‘White Rose Purity’
I know what a white rose is supposed to symbolise, but purity would have to be the most elusive human quality of them all. It is certainly aspirational though.
The white rose also means ‘new beginnings’. That might be a bit more relatable, given that our lives are a succession of endings and fresh starts, whether we plan them or not.
So then, take your pick – just don’t get pricked…
‘Painted In Memory’
This is a vista of Mangawhai Heads in New Zealand’s Northland, shot in the falling afternoon today but painted with the memories of our stays here over twenty years.
So many good times!
This view, from the deck of the place we stay, never seems to change, even if we have changed and continue to change over time.
It is a restful anchor for weary souls.
Sublime and serene!
‘Sharpen Your Saw’
Spotted today on holiday in Northland – an old corrugated iron building.A saw sharpening shed (alliteration alert!).
The shed itself isn’t looking that sharp…
‘Night Stripes’
…wild stripes of leaf and light rage against the dark night…
‘Orange Rose Explosion’
…the colour of a sunset, the form of an explosion…
‘Station To Station’
Auckland’s Britomart Train Station is relatively new and has a sorta alien spaceship, futuristic feel going on.
All the more reason to crib the title of David Bowie’s 1976 song and album as a small homage to that great musical voyager.
His music took me to a few unknown places in my youth.
Youtube link to the song below, if you care for an interesting sonic side trip…
‘Sixties: Lines And Angles’
By way of contrast to the older houses in the previous two posts, here is a shot of an “original state” sixties home on one of my walking routes.
Simple, brutalist design; all lines and angles.
Can’t decide whether it is ugly or a thing of retro beauty.
Eye of the beholder, and all that…
‘Red Doors, Blue Doors, The Rain’
… colours kicking against the gloom…
‘Blue Door, Green Door, A Tilted Cross’
‘To Keep Out The Sea’
A new seawall on Auckland’s Tamaki River, filled with rock and brave intentions.
Nature wore down its predecessor.
‘Down At The Dockside Again’
More mindless ship watching (see Down At The Dockside At Dawn for more).
Got me out of the office at least.
This time a Bahaman behemoth lies at the wharf – the intriguingly named “Firmament Ace”.
Freight rolls on and off, the shutter clicks and it’s back to work, wondering where she is headed next.
Not an office I’ll wager…
‘Atop The Wharf ‘
…parallel lines, oblivious birds…
‘Salty Dog Day Afternoon’
…oh, to be happy and free as a dog amongst the waves…
‘You’re Growing on Me’
…curling lichen spread…
‘Good Vibrations Emanating’
‘Shifting Surface’
A wave is liquid motion – complex physics and restless poetry combined.
Always shifting; never repeating.
Its form is a function of wind, tide and topography.
Its colour reflects the sky and mirrors the depths.
Unique, and then gone.
There is something incredibly pure about that.
‘Tiny Yellow Globes’
‘Against The Odds’
…you can get choked by adverse forces, but you just might grow despite them…
