Wild West

A Spring day in the middle of winter, clear skies and warm breezes. A productively lazy day at home baking gluten-free cupcakes and painting murals... until Daddy says, Lets go to Piha in the Black Stallion!

Piha Beach on the wild west coast. Black sand, crashing waves, and sunsets: perfect for late afternoon walks alone on a windswept beach to the sound of the surf. Or if you like, for kicking a football til it's too dark to see. Or taking pictures of your kid if she'll let you.

The Black Stallion is Daddy's new pride and joy. A shiny fast car for work and hot dates, not family outings. What a treat for all those messy kids! Daddy says his car is called the Black Panther, but I like Black Stallion better. His old car was The Silver Bullet, our family wagon? The Silver Bomb.

Down rollercoaster roads we streak. I close my eyes and hold on tight. I think I'm going to barf. "But I'm only doing 40!" the Driver exclaims.

At last we have descended from the torturous goat-tracks they call roads in these parts. Ravenous, we go in search of food, only to discover all Cafes Closed. Nobody visits in Winter. We forgot. We thought it was Spring.

We head to the beach anyway as the sun sets; Scrag is already sleeping.

We kick the ball and take pictures while the light holds. (Do you like Dash's new haircut? he is proud of his "rat tail").

When it is too dark to see, we retreat to the Stallion and head back to civilisation, empty tummies rumbling.

 

Glad I brought my camera.