Lets go to the beach but you can drive!

Well that's what I said to Jak this morning!!

After all I had no work

and he is off work on with his busted hand.

So once we had done breakfast I threw some things into his car (I had a basket of goodies for my sister), I paid for the petrol in Jaks car and we went on our merry way out of town towards the East coast, destination - Whangamata!!

The Waikato countryside is looking rather lush and green

even in the dullness of a stormy grey sky.

As we got closer to the coast there was

lots of mist in the hills.

We thought it looked quite

MIST-ERIOUS!

We turned off and went to Whiritoa a beautiful beach in between Waihi and Whangamata.  It was so nice to get out of the car and stretch our legs and cop a whiff of that perfect sea air!

Beautiful even though the sun wasn't shining.

I think any day is a good day to go to the beach!!

We headed back to the car to continue on the last little bit of the drive.

The hills!

I used to hate the hills

when I was a car sick child

but now I love them!

We arrived at Whangamata dead on lunch time so grabbed some food from one of the bakeries and went to my sisters place.  She had all these lovely things for me that she had found at her local op shops.

After lunch we chatted and basically just enjoyed each other company.  My nephew was there as he didn't have work today (rained off) and Jak and him hadn't seen each other for a few years like about 5.  We left the lads to their catch up and wandered about outside.  Helen's garden is small but colourful, the Rhododendron is in full bloom likewise is her Orchid and Magnolia.  Miss Febe is loving the cane chair I gave her to sleep in, and the taxidermy Peacock is looking awesome on the wall.

From my sisters place my darling lad took me to the St Johns op shop while he went across the road to the skate park, yes I know, he has a knackered hand already, and yes we went down that road and he said he would be fine.

Meanwhile in the op shop I found a cute cane basket bag.  

You may think it really is a basket but I told you all I had enough baskets and would not be buying anymore, so it is indeed a BAG!!  When I went to pay for it I found a brooch I had bought a couple of days a go, so sweet and sparkly.

We had a wander on the wharf and reminisced about all the times we fished off it when the lads were small and both of us enjoyed the aroma of salty sea air.  A baby shark swam past on the out going tide and we had the entire wharf to ourselves. 

Yay for the off season when you get the beach to yourself!

I love it down at the wharf.  Lots of little dinghies lying in the sand, fabulous views up and down the harbor, and the fishing club/restaurant has prime position on the sand hills.  

We have enjoyed a few family meals there over the years.

 We checked out the boats moored in the Mariner.

This is the rich mans playground.

 I posed in front of our Island.

Clark Island that is.

And got blown about quite a bit.

 This is the main beach and it was totally deserted today.

Harem pants and leopard print in the wind!

Worn with my $5 'Swimming with Sharks' shoes

and my great uncles Vesper box

which is now 107 years old

that I finally found a chain for.

My dad built this beach house back in 1966 when I was 4.  We had many years of family holidays in it and it holds so many good memories for me of very happy times.  He sold it 20 years ago, while I was cooking Jak so he never got to go to it, well he did but he didn't get to enjoy it if you know what I mean.  I am pleased it still stands and looks well loved even now.  It is only two roads back from the main beach so in walking distance of the sea and sand and when we were teenagers this meant FUN!! and boys that surfed!!

Before we drove out of Whangamata we went to the other end of the beach, the Estuary, another lovely spot.  It still looked lovely in the light rain that by then was falling from the sky.

When we got back to Waihi we went to the SPCA Op shop for a look.  Across the road was a bunch of cats that someone had put a bowl of food out for.  Of course they did, opposite the SPCA! (Society for prevention of cruelty of animals)  We had a slow drive down the main street so I managed to take photos of a couple of the lovely old buildings in this old gold mining town.

It was so nice to spend a day out with my son, and I think I am incredibly lucky and blessed that at 19 he still doesn't mind being seen with his mother.  I must have done something right when raising him.  I must admit that I very much enjoyed not having to drive. I could get used to that.

Yes it is!!

I plan to be in the garden.

Hope you all have a great weekend.