Sunday 13th September 2020

the season begins with a miracle

​Hello friends and family
We have eggs!
I have had a wonderful break from penguin-land. First of all, Elaine and I travelled to Picton and enjoyed the unfolding of spring – it was mostly new lambs and flowering plum trees. We spent the night there and crossed to Wellington the next day to be hosted by Elaine’s son Jay, and his partner Sam. We dined on gourmet burgers which were delicious. The next morning, I caught the bus to New Plymouth. Lunching in Palmerston North on the way was a bit freaky as they clearly had not even heard of Covid so mask wearers were a bit of a novelty!

My mountain

​Paul picked me up from the bus and the family all went out to dinner to celebrate Pamela’s birthday. The next night we had Dot over for dinner and it was great to see her for the first time in several years – in great form of course and fresh off the bowling green too!

At night this grotto twinkled with millions of glow worms

​The next day, Paul, Jen, Olivia, and I headed north to Marokopa and then inland to the waterfall and natural bridge at Te Anga. What a fabulous way to go home. The glow-worms were magical. Spring was unfolding again – this time with lilies, turkeys, goats and Pukekos. Paul, Jen, and Olivia live in Hahei, which is a slice of Kiwi heaven and the gateway to Cathedral cove. The weather was warm and the days full. On the Thursday we went to Whangamata, to catch up with Dick and Esther and on the way home, Jen and I cycled the Pauanui track.

it's a dog's life

​More of the family arrived to enjoy the weekend at Hahei and on Sunday I came south to Papamoa to stay with Maria, Bryan, and Daniel. On Tuesday, Gavin and I climbed to the summit of Mt Te Aroha which rewarded us with panoramic views. After I had visited Michael and Shirley, we all went out and ate Indian on Wednesday night, which was absolutely delicious, but not that sensible as I had 12 hours of travel to get home on Thursday. Spring had moved on to flowering cherries and the lambs were now frolicking. 

That is Mt Taranaki on the skyline

On Friday I checked the nests and on Saturday, Hiltrun did a second round.
We now have 8 eggs and over 50 active nest sites. Some of them are two-year olds joining the breeding population which is always exciting. Watch this space!
Have a great week
Rosalie
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