Beach Riders

I so wanted to be one of them.   Next year.....

Trotty

I have tried for several weeks to get a decent photo of a mare and her foal on the road into town.  Unfortunately whenever I've stopped the car she has immediately positioned herself between me and the foal.  When I took this photo she was right at the road fence but as soon as I stopped she did her usual trick and then walked over to the other side of the paddock sheltering the foal.  When she was far enough away she lost interest in me and clearly thought that they were far enough away for the foal to be let loose.  The result was that these are the best photos I've managed and they were also on a rather dull morning (good old Murphy's Law - we've hardly had a dull morning since Christmas).

For those who don't know who Trotty is see "I Did It, I Jumped The Fence" Explained .
 

Beaches, Beautiful Beaches.

I seem to have spent a great deal of time on beaches over the last few weeks.  I love beaches.  I love beach walks with friends even more.  There have been a lot of those. I've already posted some of the experiences on the Mahia Peninsula and the surrounding area and last weekend I was in Northland near Whangarei and explored some other beaches.

But first a revisit:

Blacks Beach,  Hawkes Bay on way to Mahia Peninsula

Looking South from the same spot.  It looks rough but this was quite a calm day.

I was puzzl;ed by this Black-backed Gull on Mahanga Beach.  He always seemed to be there at the same spot every time I went there.

Wheel Shell / Kota with Hermit Crab from Mahanga Beach

Wheel Shell / Kota with Hermit Crab on Mahanga Beach

We shared Ruakaka Beach with lots of birds and shells and a few humans:

Two very friendly ladies out riding

Pat, can you show this to Briagha - those breakers were almost as tall as I am.

"Me.  In there?  You must be joking!"

And at Langs Beach at Waipu there was a lovely spot with the tide coming through:

Langs Beach, Waipu

Langs Beach, Waipu

 And that's all for now!

More Little and Large

"Mummy. Will I be like you when I grow up?"

The "Aaaah" factor. When we were staying with friends who have a stud near Palmerston North a little while ago they were waiting for this foal to be born. We popped in to visit and see the foal last Friday. Colin (for that is to be his name) will, all being well, be a racehorse following family tradition.