"I believe in KISSING .... a LOT."

Auckland City at 8pm  ... from Browns Island with maximum zoom

“In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you.”  ~ Deepak Chopra

Tuesday morning sun-rise

On the beach at Browns Island ... took just under an hour and a half
to paddle across.

I took that quote quite literally on Tuesday night.  At 9pm we were paddling back in the dark from Brown’s Island.  The wind was blowing, our kayaks were surfing on the waves and we were all on the lookout for ferries.  You only realise how big they are when you’re out at sea in the dark, in a tiny little vessel, and a ferry is bearing down on you!

My city and my favourite piece of real estate, from Browns Island

Let’s not even mention the possible presence of Whales .... or, unusually for Auckland, Sharks.

Kit off and ready to explore .... after coffee, of course

Kayaking at night-time is thrilling!

So yes ... in the midst of all that movement and chaos .... my soul was calm.

We're at one end of the volcanic cone and Callum and Chris are way over on the other!

Leaving St. Heliers Bay .... before I got dumped in the waves
by my lemmings .... BAD boys!

It hadn’t started off that way.  We’d met on the beach at 5.30 and, whilst waiting for 3 fellow kayakers to arrive, had been sitting on the sand chatting and throwing shells at one another.  The shell throwing rapidly deteriorated into sand throwing and ended up with me being dumped in the waves by the lemmings.  Hmmmm .... I don’t usually get THAT wet from kayaking .... unless I fall out, which I DON’T make a habit of doing.

Heading up the cone to take photos of the sunset

Much laughter later .... and with very wet clothes .... we kitted up and headed out.

We’d chosen Tuesday for a night kayak as it was Full Moon.  Even if the sunset wasn’t as vibrant as what it can be, we’d still be able to revel in the moon lighting up our night sky. It has been a spectacular moon this past week .... huge, bright and VERY visible!

The moon was AMAZING and so close as it crested the top of the island

The night kayak was EVERYTHING I’d wanted it to be AND more.  The waves and I were one.  I only wish I’d had a waterproof camera as the night skies and views of my city as we paddled back were magical.  As for that there moon in my sky ..... humungously beautiful!

City lights before we hit the water again

And yes .... humungously is a word .... my word.

The moon at 6.40 this morning as we headed down to the beach

I’ve had the best of both worlds with the moon and the sun this last week.  The moon is setting over my city as the sun rises over Hauraki Gulf.  I see the moon as I walk down to the beach and the rising sun as I walk up to the view-site .... what could be better!

An ending and a new beginning .... it’s insane.

Morning rambles have taken on a new dimension.  

On the mornings that I don’t have to race off to work Cayl’s and I swim with the hound.  

The hound is confused ... IN A BIG WAY.

You're doing WHAT?

She can’t understand why we’re IN the water with her instead of on the sand.  The further out we swim, the more frantic she becomes ... the more frantic she becomes the more VOCAL she is.  I’m NOT sure if she thinks we’re in danger and is YELPING for help!

This is the way you wake a lemming up when they're on
auto-pilot

The YOUNGEST lemming chose to join us today too.  He doesn’t usually DO early mornings and considers rising BEFORE the sun as complete LUNACY.  Rising at midday is his idea of normality.  He asked us to wake him today though, so we did, and he dragged himself bleary-eyed and still sleeping out the front door with us.  I’m not sure if he realised that walking up to the view site before hitting the beach is part and parcel of a morning ramble.

He’d come along just for the swim and couldn’t understand why it only happened AFTER the caffeine fix and hot chocolate.  The sustenance is NECESSARY at that time in the morning!

The moon heading down behind the clouds this morning.

I think he did once he was in the waves though.  The bleary eyes were gone, the mind was wide awake .... there is something SO invigorating about an early morning wallow in the waves.

I used this quote on a birthday card today for a friend

 .... it’s one of my favourites by Audrey Hepburn and just so true of my philosophy on life!

“I believe in PINK.

I believe that LAUGHING is the BEST calorie burner.

I believe in KISSING .... a lot.

I believe in being STRONG when everything seems to be going wrong.

I believe that HAPPY girls are the prettiest girls.

I believe that TOMORROW is another day AND I believe in MIRACLES.”