Proof you're getting on

You know you're getting a bit long in the tooth when, after 5 days of road tripping it takes two days at home before you can straighten up completely and move easily again.  Too many hours sitting in the car combined with too many hours walking I guess.  

I can't exactly remember when my friend, Chris and I started taking a mid-winter break together.  More than 10 years ago at least.  We always try to go somewhere we haven't been before.  We are running out of places in the North Island but this year decided to go to the Waikato.  Although we've both been to Hamilton many times before, we realized neither of us had been there as a 'tourist' and that there were many places waiting for us to discover.  There are probably a few more on our To See list now than when we arrived as some of the attractions were closed for winter and we found out about a few more we didn't know about.

Each of us had compiled a list of things we'd like to do.  Turns out our lists were almost identical and there were some places we'd heard about but didn't know where they were so, for the first time, we visited an Information Centre.  Let me recommend the Cambridge I Site to any who may be wandering that way.  The friendly and efficient Emma took our lists and marked the places on a map so that we had a circuit for each day.  And thanks to her, we didn't take too many wrong turns.  Not that either of us worry when we do, we look upon that as seeing some countryside we may otherwise have missed.  A friend who shares your philosophy is a blessing.

Without Emma's guidance we would have missed Sanctuary Mountain at Maungatautari which is described as mainland ecological island surrounded by one of the world's longest pest proof fences.  Although there were no guided tours the day we visited, we spent quite a while chatting with the lady at their visitor's centre.  I came away so envious of their predator proof fence imagining what our forest would be like if we had one like it.

Sanctuary Mountain

 

I remember seeing award winning toilets in Ireland and Scotland.  I wonder if we have similar awards here.  These would be my nomination.

The countryside from the Sanctuary Mountain carpark.  I love a winding country road.

Just a few photos taken from the car on Monday.  We were amused by this recently pruned hedge. Obviously the same contractor did several hedges in the area as there were a few like this with other "no nonsense' hedges in between. 

Over a 'no nonsense' hedge

Something new to me - the War Memorial Church at Pukeatua.  It offers churches, Mosques and Synagogues services.

Friday My Town Shoot Out - Outdoor Food

Girlichef - Indiana really got me thinking a lot about this topic. "Outdoor food" - is that food that is eaten outside? And therefore photos of food? I thought photos of people taking their food outdoors would be easier. But is that cheating? Or maybe just me being too literal.

See, here is a photo of a picnic by the creek.
You can't actually see any food but you can see that Pam is eating.

and a young family eating their food outdoors:

I came upon the remains of what someone packed for their outdoors lunch:

Whereas this, to me, is literally outdoor food:

we have lots of this stuff:

or this - a crop of maize grown to feed the cows. They look like they are enjoying it:

or food made especially for dogs:

Some outdoor food has to be shared with other outdoor creatures:

and we all need some garnish on our food:

This might be closer to what is expected:

Strolling ladies with icecreams

Our typical outdoor food


My mate, Marty - famous for his smoked eels

But before the eating comes the gathering of food:

Mud crabbing

fishing

Some wait outdoors for their food:

Sometimes you have to compete for food outdoors:

Plenty of outdoor food and food outdoors here - and all of it for me??

I dunno. I'm still confused! But it was fun anyway! :)