To insanity and beyond ...: The "Chocolat Express"!

Seagulls like Chocolat's treats too!

The “Chocolat Express” ... as we’ve been dubbed ... hits the road early in the morning as most of my friends know. It’s still pitch-black as we head out the door at 6.30 ... if daylight saving wasn’t ending this weekend, I’d soon be having to take a torch with me on my ramble!

The hound sees me come down the stairs in my shorts and T and she KNOWS the ramble’s on. She reminds me of Tigger in Winnie the Pooh ..... she bounces when she moves and, just like Tigger, the more excited she gets, the more she bounces .... it’s contagious ... sometimes I bounce too! My mobile mound of “Chocolat in motion” makes me smile .... and that’s all good, because the more I smile, the more smiles I get back! Putting on my shoes and her collar and picking up the backpack just add to her excitement .... she just can’t contain herself!

Early morning reflections in my bay

Our first port of call on these dark mornings is usually the view site at Achilles Point where Julia and Indy meet us. We’d go to Ladies Bay to swim if we could but there’s no lighting on the stairs - I can just picture one of us taking a tumble should we attempt to descend in the dark. Taking a tumble with a hound in tow is not generally a good idea ... they’re delighted to see you at their level so you get mobbed and licked all over when all you want is space to regain your footing!

I will never lose the sense of tranquility that comes over me when I ramble. No matter the frame of mind I’m in when I head out the door, I know within 10 to 15 minutes I’ll be feeling at one with myself and at unity with the world. There’s something intrinsically special about these early mornings ... they’re not everyone’s cup of tea ... fortunately!

No ramble would be complete without the hound wallowing in the waves so the beach is ALWAYS our second port of call on week days. The hound’s not the only one who needs her time on the beach, I do too .... how would I cope without the requisite quantity of sand in my hair and water in my shoes!

We are all, and I include the hounds in this category too, totally addicted to caffeine! The Village Co-op is a compulsory stop on our morning rambles ... there’s no debate about this, it JUST happens ... no day is complete without this necessary sustenance!

From Auckland Road the hound and I head back to the beach for more wave wallowing and ball-retrieving before heading up the hill to the “Chocolat Express’s” LAST port of call ... Carol and Pete’s house where we collect Carol. I would say “pick-up” ... but that has less savoury connotations.

Ferry arriving at Auckland Ferry Terminal

The hound’s adjusted to this change to our ramble very quickly ...... I think it might have something to do with the extra shots of caffeine she gets. She knows that collecting Carol means more caffeine at the beach so she’s always delighted to see her. I’m not too sure who’s trained who but it hasn’t taken long for the dregs of Carol’s "caffeine-to-go" to find their way into the hound’s mouth.

Leaving Auckland ... going past the Cloud

The awesome Autumn weather has continued today, much to my delight. I traveled by ferry across to Devonport to meet up with a new friend ... it was a lovely afternoon with the added advantage of being able to see my city from the ocean. I love the view as you depart Auckland’s Ferry Terminal ... especially when the sun’s shining and the skies are blue! Despite what people say, I think Auckland’s a beautiful city ... the view back across the ocean never fails to move me.

“Everyday in every way, life is breathtaking and non-stop miraculous!” - anon.