For Good Measure

Herald Island Just a short walk today. Went to Herald Island with my two sisters and walked two circuits around the island (2.8 km). We took a short cut on the second circuit so about 4.5 kms total. Photos below of Anne, Chris and I at Christmas Beach, Herald Island.

Waikowhai boardwalk Intended to walk to Elena's place in Mt Roskill. We walked around Kiwi Esplanade and across the walkway under the SW motorway bridge to Onehunga. We then followed the walkway passed the Onehunga beaches to the Taumanu reserve and joined the Waikowhai boardwalk around to Hillsborough. Had lunch at the Little Oven Cafe on Frederick St. Nice food and reasonably priced with friendly service. Decided after lunch that we would walk home and visit Elena and the granddaughters by car later in the day. Today was Auckland's 29th day of rain. It has rained every day this August. Just a few showers today but not ideal weather for walking. Around 12 kms.  Currently we are having to use the walkway under the motorway bridge to cross the Manukau harbour. The security guards who patrol the bridge 24/7 do a good job of keeping us safe and today they invited us to share their food from their 'grace table' when we returned from our walk. We will miss their frien...

Coastal walkway - this time with laden pack. Three and a half hours walk. Very windy afternoon.

Today's walk was around 18 kms. We walked to Onehunga and caught a train to Britomart then to the Auckland Art Gallery to view the Colin McCahon exhibition. This year is the centenary of his birth. A small but interesting and informative exhibition. We had lunch in Albert Park before walking home via Grafton bridge, Newmarket, Manukau Rd to Onehunga. As rain was threatening we caught a 309 bus from Onehunga train station to home.                                                                  Teresa in Albert Park Steve at the fountain and statue of Sir John Logan Campbell at the Manukau Rd entrance to Cornwall Park

Paremata Wellington: Staying with Dominic and Keshi for the weekend to do some fencing work (weather permitting). Walked down through the bush to Ivey Bay Reserve, around to the Porirua inlet and back up the winding hilly roads to their place. Only about an hour and a half but a good leg and cardio workout! View as we walked up the hill to Dom and Keshi's house. Dom and Steve fencing on Sunday. Can you find Steve? Luke and Kendall working on the fence in very chilly weather.

Mangere Maunga and Coastal walkway This morning we walked up Mangere mountain. An easy walk up one of Auckland's 52 volcanoes with views over the Manukau harbour and Auckland city including Rangitoto, Maungakiekie, Maungawhau, the Waitarere ranges to the west and the Bombay hills to the south. The larger crater View to the south west, our house is down there somewhere. We joined the Coastal Walkway at the Lagoon and walked around to Ambury Farm Park and back home. The wind was fairly gusty, particularly up at the top of the maunga and along the coast in parts. Probably a 6km walk today. Bird hide Ambury farm park One of Tessa's friends

North Head Continuing our walking fitness preparation, walked to Onehunga and caught train to Britomart then ferry to Devonport. The weather was a bit blustery with some rain but we had our wet weather gear for the walk up to North Head and along Cheltenham beach. Lovely views of Auckland city and Waitemata harbour although a bit muddy underfoot in places.  Had a window of fine weather before our return on the ferry and train. Nearly 3 hours walk in all so probably about 12 kms.

Preparing for our Portuguese Camino 2019. This is us walking the Rakiura track in Stewart Island back in March. Since then we have been doing regular walks of between 5 and 16 km.  A month to go now until we arrive in Porto.