Opunake Walkway - part 2

Sunday was a GORGEOUS day here in Opunake, so we decided to venture to the other end of the walkway.  Like many towns in NZ, Opunake has a publicly accessed and maintained coastal walkway that winds through some of its unique area.  At one end of the town, the walkway begins (or ends, depending on how you look at it) around the lake area and some of the pastures down to the beach.  So we are well acquainted with that stretch.  This time we headed up the beach toward the opposite end of town, and discovered hidden gems that we had no idea were here!  Here are some photos and descriptions of the highlights:

A different view of Opunake Beach, from the opposite side of the bay
than we usually walk.  Flat day - no waves!

Grif carefully heads over the electric cattle fence

Isn't this town just gorgeous?  That's Mt Taranaki partially visible
in the distance.

Some of the locals wonder what we're up to.  They all gathered as if
ready to hear my speech.  I thanked them all for coming.

After we wind our way through  pastures
 and coastal cliffs, we find ourselves in
 a beautiful hilltop cemetery, with
 many stones dating back to early 1900's
or even earlier.  There is
 a military section, and an area that seems to be
primarily Maori.

Beyond the cemetery, the trail crosses this rivermouth leading to the
ocean.  The planks had fallen, so we had to boulder hop.  Only Gavin's left shoe went in, so we did pretty well!  In all fairness, he has the shortest legs.

Across the stream we found ourselves at an important Maori heritage
spot.  The Maori were famous for defending their lands via "bunker warfare".
They would dig themselves into bunkers on coastal cliffs.  This one was never
taken by enemies.  When we climbed to the top of what is now overgrowth with
brambles, we could see the foxholes everywhere.

We walked home through town, and were so happy to pass one of
the many "dairies" (aka convenience stores) for a cold drink.  It was a
gorgeous but very warm day!

Blues on the Beach

The South Taranaki District Council arranges community events from time to time.  This weekend's event was "Blues on the Beach" at Opunake Beach on Saturday.  We couldn't have asked for nicer weather!  The blues band, Blues Buffet out of Wanganui, was really good.  The kids ran around on the beach, in and out of the water, in and out of the ice cream shop, and on and off the playground.  Grownups had a potluck picnic and just enjoyed the day.  Felt remarkably similar to a day at Fletcher Cove!

Blues Buffet band playing

Shelley and Sue spinning poi.  Shelley was learning before  she
moved to New Zealand, so she is continuing her practice here.  Sue
learned in primary school here in NZ - apparently many people do.
It's a lot harder than it looks!  (I tried)

Griffin, Gavin & Logan goofing

Steve, Lori, Shelley & Sue picnicking & listening to blues

Opunake, Home to World-Famous Surf

We feel so fortunate to be living right across the street from Opunake's main beach.  The town is known for its surf, but it is amazingly uncrowded out there - usually only one or two surfers out at a time, if that.  The main beach has a finicky break that has to be just right for real surfers.  For kids and learners, it is usually fine because there is almost always plenty of fast-moving whitewash.  However, often the wind makes it unbearable, as you are getting lashed in the eyes constantly and the waves get sloppy and churny.  About half the days the conditions are right for kids, and so the boys go out a few times a week, either after school  or on weekends.  This Saturday starts the Opunake Board Riders kids surf camp, which seems a bit like Solana Beach's junior lifeguarding program.

Ken has made friends with the local teenagers who come pick him up (it's pretty funny to see him hopping into the jeep with 17 year-olds) and take him to Green Meadows or other good nearby surf breaks.  On Tuesday Ken & I walked the kids to their school, which is just up the street from the high school.  He was getting "hey, mate, how ya goin?" from the local teens, to my amusement!

Gav rides it all the way in - he graduated easily from the
longboard to the shortie - now he can turn!

Grif on the shortie - our goofyfoot.  

Taylor boys after a great session

Superbowl "Monday"?

So the superbowl is not a big deal in NZ, but there are a number of American expats here in Opunake.  Angelo Hill gets ESPN (!) and taped the big game.  Our family and the other American doctor's family and a few stray kiwis watched the Packers defeat the Steelers (sorry Lanny).  We were pulling for the Steelers, and imagine our surprise when Angelo's son Nico opens the door in full Steelers get-up, including helmet.  Felt like home, complete with chicken wings, beer and smart-asses!  (I lost a trivia question & was punished with Polish vodka -- who  knew that Keith Urban is a kiwi?!)

A surprising discovery -- Steeler fan, complete with outfit, in Opunake!

Pretty good turnout for Superbowl -- this is about half of the crowd

Waitangi Day

Waitangi Day is February 6th.  It is a national holiday that commemorates the 1840 signing of the Waitangi Treaty, considered New Zealand's "founding document".  This treaty was one in which land agreements were reached between Maori and European settlers.  However, it is a controversial celebration with protests in some areas, as some feel that Maori interests were not well served.   There are apparently discrepancies between the Maori and English versions.  I won't pretend to understand it fully.

We drove an hour south to the coastal town of Patea for their annual "Paepae in the Park" Waitangi Day celebration.  It was like many small town festivals - local bands on the stage, craft stalls and local food.  We enjoyed a "hangi meal" (traditional Maori plate), bought some trinkets and listened to the tunes.  Then we headed out to the coast to check out the Patea rivermouth area, where we found an interesting breakwater creating little waves in the coves.  Boys frolicked in waves and warmed themselves in black volcanic sand. All in all, a good Waitangi Day.

Ken & Gav enjoying a hangi meal (lots of meat!) on the music lawn

Beautiful whale bone display in Patea - commemorating a Maori legend
 in which a Maori Chief's pet whale was killed and eaten.  The guilty party
 was eventually put to death.  Kids just liked the whale bone swing.

Beautiful church in Patea 

The public restrooms at Patea beach

Isaak & Griffin at Patea beach

Gavin?

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!! (Actually mostly beef...)

So Ken and some of his work friends decide to walk to the local pub for a pint after work.  There happens to be a raffle going on to support the local Surf Club.  Ken buys a $4 raffle ticket, and next thing you know he wins the "meat box".  He comes walking home with ground beef, rump roast, pork chops, beef schnitzel, crumbed sausages and some unidentifiable pink stuff.  Even funnier is that this comes a week or two after he won "lamb forequarters" at a golf tournament!  He has to stop winning meat because our freezer is FULL.  We ate the crumbed sausages for dinner and they were better than expected.  A bit cheesey and crunchy.

Griffin, on the other hand, doesn't win dinner, he earns it.  He went to the rocky point nearby with our neighbor Geoff and came back with 6 big abalone to cook up.  That's my boy!  Abalone is a darker color here, almost black.  The kiwis call it "paua", and it is a delicacy.  You can either tenderize it and fry it in butter, or mince it and shape it into a patty & grill it.  Also, one of Ken's lovely patients is giving us several heads of lettuce a week.  At this rate, I'll never have to grocery shop.

Egmont soaps

Local business on Opunake's main street.  The name "Egmont" comes from the local mountain in this Taranaki region.  Similar to Mt. McKinley (aka "Denali") it has two names, the name that English-speakers assigned it on their arrival (Mt. Egmont) and the name that locals had used for years before that (Taranaki).  But I digress...Ken and I poked our heads into the shop after we got the kids off to school their first day.  Turns out the guy who makes the soaps is the retired chemist (pharmacist) so he & Ken got talking medicine.  He then showed us how he has repurposed old farm and dairy equipment to make his soaps.  It was an amazing display of kiwi ingenuity.  Had to buy some...the kiwifruit soap is the favorite so far.

Getting the tour

Some of the shop's offerings

First day of school...survived!

Actually, more than survived.  Gavin gave it a mediocre so-so, while Grif gave it two enthusiastic thumbs up.  When we probed Gavin more, it seems he just doesn't like school in general, and Opunake elementary is no worse than Skyline elementary.  So there you have it.  The boys were incredulous when they found out that the red bucket hats are mandatory if you want to go out and play at recess and lunchtime.  But the school really sticks to that rule, so they wore them!

Things we loved:  shoes optional, and most students opted out, and you are allowed to ride your skateboard or ripstick at recess so long as you don't run anyone over.  You can swim at lunchtime if you want, you just have to remember your "togs".  But this was the best: the principal gave a welcoming address at the morning assembly, and she explained the rules for playing tackle rugby at lunch.  Basically you could only do it when a teacher was supervising, and, as the principal put it, "if you are going to be one of those boo-hoo-ers and come crying when you get tackled, then don't play".  Wow, we like it already!  The kids are really immersed in the local Maori culture at this school.  Gavin has homework that is partially in Maori and he has two parents completely unable to help.  Ken had the day off, so we walked back to school at 3:00 to pick them up.  We all meandered home, bought a bike for me on the way home (it is SWEET), had an ice cream cone, and then Toby, Thomas & Geoff Watt taught the Taylor boys how to play cricket.  Then Taylor boys went out for a surf session as it was a GORGEOUS day, and now it is off to bed.

Setting off to walk to school in their ridiculous but necessary sun hats!

OK, so they only wear the hats at recess...

Gav getting things all set up at his desk

Gav found his friend Jade before school

School assembly - gotta love the footwear, or lack thereof

OK,  just had to take yet another pic of this b/c it was such a BEE-YOO-TIFUL day!