Enjoying the sun

For my friends in the Northern Hemisphere who are probably huddled around a heater at the moment, dressed in multiple layers and using their pets as fluffy water bottles it's hot here at the moment. Not, like, Australian hot, but hot. And I'm loving it....except for the heat if that makes sense? I love the smell of a summers days - freshly mown grass, sunscreen and the roasting pavement combine to make one of my favourite aromas, sitting somewhere between the smell of a grape fruit burst and perfume I can't afford (insert any brand here).

So this afternoon after work I went for what was meant to be a quick walk down at the waterfront. I say quick because I thought, nice & flat, easy peasy but I ended up walking for longer and further than on Sunday and (according to my free phone app) burning more calories, which since it wasn't planned I counter-acted with a chocolate bar once I got home just to keep the world in balance.

I started at St Heliers Bay and walked just past Kohimarama Beach before U-turning and heading back the way I came. As you head out of Auckland City along the waterfront you travel through some lovely bays - my favourite of which is Mission Bay which hosts a Jazz and Blues festival each year. I didn't make it as far as there tonight, mainly because I was afraid of melting so perhaps next time.

This is on the outward journey as you head towards the city. The two mounds on the right are part of the North Shore. When the water is out like it was tonight you can see Oyster Catchers, and NZ Herons feasting happily.

The Kohimara Yacht club was deceptively quiet today. It's hard to even spot on the weekend mornings as it gets lost in a sea of people and boats coming and going around it.

The view from the bays is dominated by Rangitoto (Maori for 'Bloody Sky), the 5.5km wide volcanic island that lies about a 30 minute ferry ride out from Auckland harbour.

This giant rock is in my book of walks and I have chosen it to be the last one I do for a few reasons. a) It's close(ish) to home. b) As an Aucklander it's iconic and c) It's a mountain and as soon as I step off the boat I'm going to be going up hill, for hours. A walk like that deserves a special place on the list, so introducing number 202 everybody - Rangitoto Island!

Today's stats were - 

It's slightly disappointing that I'm slower across a flat surface but the stats don't lie (note to self...see if you can get the stats to lie)

And I was feeling a little bluesy today so my track of the track was GO TO THE MARDI GRAS by Professor Longhair.

Hope everyone has a good week!