Windy coast!

Our first stop was to pull off and look at the beach. The beaches along the west coast are black sand from the effects of the volcano (which is no longer active).

Our first weekend trip

Last weekend we took advantage of the lack of work at the hospital and took to the road. After talking with our friendly neighbors, Laurie (male) and Jeanette, we decided to drive to the southwest corner of the North Island, to Mt. Taranaki and New Plymouth. Before we knew it, we were outside the city, surrounded by farms and sheep.

The sunset behind our house. This is how it looks nearly every night. Really beautiful. We live up on a hill, and the locals tell me it is the "windy season". I'd say. Some days it sounds like our house is going to get blown down. And also, New Zealand doesn't believe in window screens, so when you open the windows to let the fresh air in, you also end up letting in other critters. Like the GIANT bumblebee that flew in and didn't want to leave. We gently convinced it to go back outside with all of the blooming spring flowers.

The lovely view from our house, overlooking the Whanganui River in the evening hours.

Our House