Waipatiki And The Rainbow Of Blessing

How long will summer last? How many opportunities will we have to journey to the wild? Who knows...better go now! Go now to our favourite place in Hawke's Bay. An ever changing, moody, glorious landscape like no other. What an abundance of blackberries we saw all along the roadsides-

warm juice, black stained fingers.

Kereru, a pair flew down to mess about in the Poplars.

The wonder-led life!

A wander in the clear waters of the Waipatiki river.

Remnants of the cyclone of February 2023

Keen little watercress- go, grow!

The babbling brook...

Karamu- Coprosma robusta berries nice and ripe and edible. Not fabulous but they might be useful in certain circumstances.

Funny finding wild honesty seeds in the grass.

Walking along the road we came across these magnificent Kahikatea drupes/berries. The red, orange bits are deliciously edible.

And aren't they beautiful too!

The native forest out here is unique in Hawke's Bay. So verdant and beautiful. Nikau palms flourish in this special microcosm. We walked through the ancient forest and had a chance encounter with a happy visiting Wellingtonian along the way,

Crucifix orchids in flower in a bach garden at the roadside.

We've watched this Puriri grow from newly planted to a fine tree now producing berries and attracting kereru (wood pigeons).

The famous Little Red Bookshop is still operational. So this time I rememebered to do a drop off. 

All very neat and tidy inside. Even puzzles and games for kids on the bottom shelf.

But you can't come in....there's no room!

A hare! Always plenty of rabbits out this way but we've not seen hares before.

 Bold as brass.

Then a wander along the ocean's edge.

And a swim for one.

A chat with a new mother playing in the gentle waters of lagoon with her baby- moved out here last June.

This seemed like a great spot for our picnic.

Entertainment.

So glad I spent the time to make an amazing picnic dinner.

Sunshine, showers, a downpour. Lucky I mentioned- better take the the umbrella.

There's often dynamic weather in Waipatiki, which makes it so much fun. 

Constantly changing light and dynamics.

So good to see the reinstatement of the pontoon that had been damaged in the cyclone.

It's well loved and used by the camper's across the creek.

And another muscly looking hare!

Up to the top of the hill homeward bound & I looked back down to see... the rainbow.

Stop!!!

Thankful. Blessed.

Awe inspiring indeed.