Saturday, Mar 9th, Napier, New Zealand

Greetings!

We woke up this morning with no idea where we were going to spend the day.  We knew there was a Cape with some peaks and a couple of roads southeast of us.  A colony of gannets roost on the far end of the cape.  Google Maps said one road led to Ocean Beach, and another across a small bridge to the top of the highest peak.  the roads haven't been too bad lately, why not?

The road to the cape was indeed closed, as some hikers were injured trying  to get too close to the gannets, and the town took some precautions while it made sure it was safe.

The road over the hill to the beach, and then up to the peak, was one of the most beautiful we've driven.  Of course, we never stopped to take pictures, so you'll have to take our word for it.  We did stop near the top because the Triple Peaks Fundraiser for the Te Mata Park Trust was today.  Seven-hundred participants ran, walked, or mountain-biked for 55 kilometers over three craggy coastal peaks on a beautiful day.

Before returning home,we visited the National Aquarium of New Zealand to see the afternoon feeding of their many rescued tiny penguins.  All but two are being cared for because injuries prevent them from surviving in the wild.  Their feed (pilchard or "Cornish sardines") is brought in from Europe, and one penguin has reached the age of 19 (twice as old as usual).  Not a bad life at all.

To see the rest of the photos taken today, click on: Saturday, Mar 9th, Napier, New Zealand.