To the North
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Mon 23 Dec 2013 23:27
|
To Cape
Reinga
 Up we
jumped this morning and off we went, not before we sat and took in the view,
special because Beez is bottom
right.
 Today was due to be a supermarket day
for our festive shopping. Knowing the shops were going to open really late, some
ten, some midnight, we decided to do a touristy thing first. Cape Reinga was the
goal, off we went on good roads and lovely
scenery.
 Something new to us en route, a
Fire Danger Warning sign.
 We pulled off the road
to look at a pretty fishing village called Mangonui.
 We got to the end of the
village to do a u-turn, another first was to see a Penguin
Crossing sign.
 A rather nice little town.
 It has to be said, we
have never seen so many agapanthus – ever. They are
everywhere, at the marina where we first saw them and ever since. Thousands of
them, now happily spreading themselves about the countryside.
 Next we stopped at a
lookout for Doubtless Bay.
   Here even more
agapanthus, classic blue and white. Loads of bottlebrush too.
  We stopped at a petrol station next to
a motel, not for any other reason than we saw a lighthouse
in the garden.
The History: North
Cape Lighthouse. Planning commenced in 1905, ordered in 1912 and built in 1927
as a 400 mm Fixed Optical Light by Chance Brothers and Co Ltd, lighthouse
engineers, Smethwick, of Birmingham. The light was operated by acetylene gas,
located at Murimotu Island at thirty four degrees, twenty four minutes south and
one hundred and seventy three degrees, three minutes east. The light is now
operated by electricity.
Replaced in 1973. Brought down to
Waitiki Landing in 1974. Gifted by the Marine Department to the Crown for
relocation at Waitiki Landing on the 7th of January 1974. Accepted by the
Commissioner of Crown Land on the 23rd of January 1974.
Restoration:
Arthur Ole
Lancaster began restoring the light in January 1996. Where possible he used
authentic pieces, but, over the years, some pieces have been lost so he had to
replace them with replicas. The original lenses were stolen while in storage,
but he was able to replace them with revolving lenses. The original was a fixed
lens. It is believed this light is the only working one on private land and is
exhibited at Waitiki Landing every evening or as requested.
 Further north we saw a graveyard on a hill.
  Not as haphazard as we have become
used to in Tonga, but traditional symbols we have.
   All we can say is if the Indian Mynah
bird is a pest to be wiped out, we saw hundreds, in ones, twos, dozens and more
all along the roadside. It was really nice to see chaps
scruffing about that we recognise.
    During the day we counted five
kingfishers and fifteen hawks.
 We know this is a
common chap but he did pose nicely.
 These inquisitive
babies saw us and came trotting over.
   Information
boards along the way.
 We were so surprised to see beaches and so much sand.
 Cape Reinga was very special.
 We stopped to admire the view and lo and behold....................
  .............. Thistles.
 Logging and
view.
 An interesting front
garden.
   We sat and watched the sun go down
over Cooper’s Bay.
 ALL IN ALL SUCH A PRETTY,
UNSPOILT COUNTRYSIDE
ALMOST A WARM CORNWALL
|