Roni was up
early for the walk to work with Kaff- this time with a bonus of coffee from
one of the only local places to make coffee even close to NZ standard!
Today was
fine though quite windy so we were all set for an outside mish. Started blue
then blended to grey but we rugged up and were not to be dissuaded. Had picked
up a booklet at the i-site yesterday about a coastal walk that included a
lighthouse (Roni’s favourite) and were ready to try it.
We made our
way successfully through town, past The Arches, across the River Dee where the
oil crews were practising emergency drills and around the port through stinky
fish smells and numerous oil company bases to the coast. We poked around Torry
Battery, bird watched on the rocks alongside Balnagask golf course, spotted
dolphins (EXCITING) and squeaked...ran down to the beach to try and get a
better look before eventually heading back toward the lighthouse. We traversed
the mysterious ‘Avoiding Steps’, saw many sea birds, rocky outcrops and signal
lights well protected by unfriendly looking fences.
Then on to
the main event – GIRDLENESS LIGHTHOUSE! Exciting! (mainly for Roni admittedly...)
We got as close to it as we could legally before ogling the massive foghorn and
scrambling about on rocks while surf broke very close to us = FUN.
On around
the coast we continued to Nigg Bay where there were some paraponters training
with parachutes of many rainbow colours. There was definitely enough wind for
them! We were both glad to have scarves, warm hats and gloves with us – our only
regret being that the kite was still at Adam and Kaff’s place so we couldn’t
fully participate in the wind fun. Further on we happened upon the ruins of St
Fittick’s church and St Fittick’s Community Park. They had some great playground
equipment including a tyre swing we enjoyed plus a double flying fox! What is
this you ask....two flying foxes running directly next to each other so we
could race them! Fun! Admittedly it took Roni two goes to get up on the seat
bit – curse these t-rex arms of mine! Definitely a cool idea.
The wind was
now blowing in strongly from the sewage treatment plant...this plus hunger and
a need for the loo drove us homeward. Past some of the ugliest apartment blocks
we’ve ever seen, back around past the fishy smells and across Victoria Bridge
we walked apace.
Home for a
lunch of wedges with leftover pasta sauce, some brief combined Who Wants to be a Millionaire on the PS2
before Roni left Bray to play cricket and rugby while she read and attempted
some journal catch up.
Kaff and
Adam home for a warming dinner of pea and pesto soup before some movie/tv/sharing
& PS2 time then bed.
