Day 2 in Palmerston North NZ

Thursday 8th November and the beginning of my second day in NZ. I was wide awake at 4am which was my usual 7am USA time, this just has to change, I told myself, otherwise I am going to be exhausted by the end of each day. ( It took another couple of days, for my body to figure out that I could actually sleep in until 7am)

My plans for the morning was to drive to my daughter, Tina's home, spend some time with her, then do some exploring in the afternoon.

I was just about to leave my cabin when there was a knock on the door. I opened the door to find a young Maori man standing on the bottom step, he proceeded to tell me that my bonnet was unlatched. Huh?? It took me a second to translate into USA language, Oh yes, the hood of my car was unlatched. I could see right away that there were Kiwi terms I had not heard in a while and I would have to do some quick translation. *chuckle*

I spent the morning with Tina, going grocery shopping with her and her chore provider, then returning back to Tina's house to fix some meals to put in the freezer, so the chore provider could have a break from cooking for a few days.

After lunch I drove to the VictoriaEsplanade Gardens, which is conveniently just behind the Holiday Park where I was staying. The development of the Esplanade began in 1897 with a gravel footpath laid on one end of the 361 acres of land granted to the borough of Palmerston north in 1876 for use as a public park. The gravel footpath was named "Victoria Esplanade Drive" to commemorate Queen Victoria's 60th Jubilee.

The Date Palms line both sides of one of the roads through the park

The Victoria Esplanade covers an area of 19 hectares (approx 361 acres) adjacent to the Manawatu River.

Some of the bird aviaries

There is a conservatory and lath house, plant displays, native bush with trails throughout, a fernery, bird aviaries, BBQ and picnic areas, a kid's paddling pool and playground.

My brother and I rode the miniature train. More on this adventure later.

A miniature railway winds throughout the esplanade. You take in the color and fragrance of the Dugald Mackenzie Rose Garden, and much more. So you can understand why I spent much of my free time wandering the garden areas, trails and checking out everything there was to see. It is a most relaxing beautiful place to spend one's time.

The cherry blossoms had finished blooming, but the Azaleas and Rhododendrons were still beautiful

Day one in New Zealand

5.10am on Wednesday 7th of November, the Boeing 777 Jet landed in Auckland after 13 hrs 10 minutes of flying time. Now all I had left was a short 1 hour flight to Palmerston North, which could not go by fast enough.
By now I was feeling rather tired and not at all thinking very clearly. But I had to get my act together before arriving in Palmerston North, as I had a rental car to drive on the LEFT side of the road to the Holiday Park where I was to stay for my 13 days in NZ.

Up, up and away went the small "puddle jumper" AT7 on it's way South to Palmy. Lake Taupo, where my parents had a holiday home, in the distance, through the early morning mist.

A short time later we flew close by Mount Ruapehu which looks a little like Mount St Helen's here in Washington State.

I had forgotten how many, many miles of flat, very green pasture land there is in NZ, and the rows of trees and hedges which separate the paddocks.

Now I was feeling very excited, as I caught my first glimpse of Palmerston North, framed by the Tararua Ranges in the distance. We have had our tea and coffee cups collected, tray tables and seat backs back in position, and seat belts fastened, ready for landing at Palmerston North International airport.

We have lined up with the runway, and are slowly descending over the rich farmland surrounding the city, in preparation for our landing on the runway.

Across the road at the end of the runway, bump, bump, bump and we are on the runway. The plane rushes towards the end of the runway, flaps up, engines in reverse to slow our speed and we slowly come to a stop at the end of the runway. The plane turns and taxis back to the terminal where Don P. is waiting with the car I have arranged to rent for my stay.
It is now 8am and Don is there inside the terminal, waiting to drive me back to the rental car depot so I can fill out the necessary paper work before driving to the Holiday park. All I need to do now is collect my luggage from the carousel and start the first day of my vacation. I was pleasantly surprised to see the lovely little red Toyota Corolla waiting for me outside the terminal, small and very economical to drive. Gas being around $6nz a gallon I did not want a gas guzzler.


I would probably not be able to check into the park until 1pm, unless no one had rented the cabin the day before. Knowing this, after I had signed the car rental agreement, and figured out all the Toyota's controls, (everything opposite to what I am used to, I kept turning on the window wipers instead of the turn signals for the first couple of days) I drove to my daughter's home to visit, and fill in time before getting settled in my cabin.
At around 11 am I took a chance and drove to the holiday park to see what the status of the cabin was, and was very happy to be told I could move in right then.
I dragged my luggage inside, did a little unpacking then lay on the bed for a well needed nap.
After a short nap, I was hungry so found the nearest grocery store and stocked up on a cooked chicken, salad, fruit, soda, milk, and my favorite cookies, gingernuts, to get me through the next couple of days.
Around 5:30pm my brother Graeme, arrived home from work and we had a wonderful reunion. Graeme has lived in the holiday park for many years and loves it there. It is so quiet and peaceful with lovely trees and well kept gardens and many songbirds filling the air with Sweet songs.
The end of my first day came to a close very early. After a couple of glasses of wine with my brother, I was ready for a good night's sleep and fell into bed at 8pm, which in reality was 11pm USA time.

Tired but happy to be home.

I arrived back on Whidbey Island at 12:30 am this morning.
Today has been one of rest, as this trip back to New Zealand has left me feeling quite exhausted and it is going to be a few days before I manage to get around to editing some photos, which have been downloaded, for you to see.
Thanksgiving will be very low key for us, due to the fact that I really do not have much energy for cooking a huge meal. However we will enjoy the holiday and we wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.
Stay tuned for the upcoming news from my visit to Aotearoa, Land of the Long white cloud.

Last post from Aotearoa - New Zealand

This will be my last post until I get back to USA.
I have been running all over in the little Toyota Corolla I have rented, visiting friends, looking at all the houses I have lived in growing up in Palmerston North, and driving into town to wander around and seeing what, if anything is left of the old city as I remembered it. Sadly much has changed.

I have done some shopping, well actually I have walked the town several times over, trying to make up my mind what I really want to buy, as I am on a limited budget, DANG IT ANYWAY!!

I admit, I am missing my home on Whidbey Island, my Honey, and of course Rocket our cat. I have thoroughly enjoyed my visit so far and the time has just flown by way too quickly.

The days for the most part have been sunny, though there has been some rain which did not last too long. The seasons have changed as they have done there the States, where the really nice warm weather used to be December /January it is now March /April I guess I will plan to come back when it is warmer. Anyone got a few extra $$$$'s they do not want? *chuckle*

There is something I took for granted when I lived here, and that is the song of all the birds. As I sit here at my brother's PC I am listening to many songbirds singing, what a joyful sound.

The visits every day with my daughter, are pretty exhausting mentally, so returning to my cabin at the end of the day gives me a chance to rest and recharge for the next day. I know she has enjoyed my visit and it will be difficult to say goodbye on Tuesday.

Well that is all for now, stay tuned and I will have pictures for you in the near future, that is, when I get over my jet lag and have settled in back on Whidbey Island.

My first week in NZ

I can't believe I have been in NZ for almost one week.
Here is what I have been doing.
Shopping.

eating fabulous food & drinking plenty of good NZ vino.

visiting friends.

eating fabulous food & drinking plenty of good NZ vino

Spent the weekend on my brother's boat "Drambuie"

eating fabulous food & drinking plenty of good NZ vino

Spending time with my daughter.

And trying to get to bed at a reasonable hour, which has not been successful YET! but really, why waste time sleeping when there is so much to do.

Today I walked into a business owned by a friend I have not seen for about 18 years, boy! was she ever surprised. Then tomorrow after spending time at Tina's house celebrating her 38th birthday, I am meeting with someone I have not seen since High School days.

I have about 345 photos so far, enough for many posts in the future.

Bye for now, there is a glass, or two, perhaps three of fruit of the vine waiting to consumed. And if you think all I am doing is eating and drinking, well, that is pretty close to the truth *grin*

First post from Kiwi Land

OK folks I am here in Aotearoa, The land of the long white cloud.
I had a good flight, I took a sleep aid and knocked myself out for five hours., woke up in time for breakfast. I should have stayed asleep as the breakfast, or at least part of it was "not my cup of tea." When I booked my ticket I ordered low fat meals and the dinner was excellent, baked salmon and vegetables but for the breakfast there was a hot dish of mixed vegetables, the frozen kind, and small squares of tofu, BARF!! Thankfully there was some Orange juice, a dish of cantaloupe and strawberries, and a small blueberry muffin so I did not go hungry.
Yesterday, my first day, after I signed papers for the rental car, I drove to Tina's house to visit for a while before checking into the Holiday Park at around 11 am. My cabin is pretty basic, but is clean and comfy.

That evening I went to the supermarket with my brother Graeme and came home with a bottle of wine, (compliments of my brother ) which I am slurping on as I type, so if this does not make sense, blame it on this very good Kiwi wine *Chuckle*

Today I spent most of the day with my daughter and had a nice time, cooked for her, went for a drive out to the cemetary to visit her brother's grave and brought her home to take a nap. I think I wore her out.

That is all for now, posting is slow as Graeme is on dial up so I will not be posting any pictures. You will have to wait until I get home.

Family, I am on my way. Put the tea kettle on.

Just four and a half hours and I will be sitting on the shuttle taking me on the first leg of my journey to visit my homeland.
From Seattle by United Airlines to San Fransisco, by Air New Zealand to Auckland, then a "puddle jumper" 45 minute flight to Palmerston North where I was born and raised.
I did sleep quite well last night, considering the apprehension/excitement rush I have, though I was awake at my usual body clock time of 6am, 5am on the clock now daylight saving has kicked in.

My largest suitcase was all packed,weighed and ready to go last night. I managed to get under the 50lbs allowed, for one suitcase, just over 40lbs. I can tell you, for a petite person such as myself, hauling a 40lb suitcase off a carousel is quite enough, thank you. I am taking a smaller carry on bag containing all the gifts, and a backpack with a good book to read a travel blanket and inflatable pillow with a nice soft cover, and a few snacks to get me by until my flight leaves San Fransisco 7 pm tonight. I am not going to take the chance of the gifts going missing somewhere between the States and New Zealand so they will be with me at all times.

Last night I received an email from Tina's Aunt Tina is very excited, looking forward to seeing you I am afraid you will probably get a shock as she is becoming very bad with the Huntington's.
I am sure nothing is going to prepare me for the way my baby girl looks now. (She will celebrate her 38Th birthday on the 14Th of November) There is an 8x10 photo on the wall beside me, showing a cute dark haired smiling lovely young lady.
If any of you saw that anorexic model on TV lately, I am preparing myself to see my daughter looking like her, only very unsteady on her feet, a loss of control over her body movements and a loss of clear speech.

I will endeavor to keep you posted from NZ, but please give me a day or two, to get settled in and recover from the flight.

Changes in Keewee's life

This past Thursday my job, "is gone with the wind" ( a dear friend used this term and it suits the situation) anyhow, all I am going to say about that is "A door closed and now I wait for the next to open"

In the meantime I will go on my visit to New Zealand and enjoy all the time I have with my daughter Tina, who has Huntington's Disease. Her disease was inherited from her father's side of the family. She is not doing well at all, so all the time I spend with her will be so very special.

It is going to be a "bitter sweet" visit but is so very important that I go now, as Tina's HD is progressing very rapidly. She is at the stage where she is very unsteady on her feet and is falling down, and her speech is very difficult to understand. Tina's doctors are allowing her to stay in her little house with the help of care givers, until I get there. Shortly thereafter we expect her to be in a care facility.

And to balance all the tears and stress of my daughter's situation, my two brothers will be giving their Sis the "royal treatment"

Come Monday at 11 am I say goodbye to my sweetheart MrC and climb aboard the shuttle which will deliver me to the door at the airport. MrC and Rocket our cat, are going to have to take care of the place while I am gone.

Wish me well on my journey and please remember Tina in your prayers.

Top 10 Signs You Are Too Old To Trick or Treat

10. You get winded from knocking on the door.

9. You have to have another kid chew the candy for you.

8. You ask for high fiber candy only.

7. When someone drops a candy bar in your bag, you lose your balance and fall over.

6. People say, "Great Boris Karloff Mask!" and you're not even wearing a mask.

5. When the door opens you yell, "Trick or....." and can't remember the rest.

4. By the end of the night, you have a bag full of restraining orders.

3. You have to carefully choose a costume that won't dislodge your hairpiece.

2. You're the only Power Ranger in the neighborhood with a walker.

1. You keep having to go home to pee.

Busy, Busy, Busy

This past weekend MrC and I had rather a busy time. On Saturday morning we were up at CWSA range for a falling plate match, then drove home, unloaded our guns from the car, packed the RV and took off again.
MrC had some business in Hoquium on Sunday to take care of, so we decided to take the RV and spend Saturday night there rather than leaving early from home on Sunday to make the drive.

An old tugboat moored waiting for work

The weather was fabulous when we arrived in Hoquium, so after checking in with the owner of the business, we took our cameras and walked along the river bank and through the old part of town. Hoquium used to be a booming log town up until the "spotted owl controversy" The logging industry has waned but according to residents the town is making a comeback in other directions.

This Heron waiting for his dinner to swim by.

Saturday evening, MrC and I enjoyed a delicious dinner at a Mexican restaurant which was right next door to the business MrC was to work at on Sunday, and afterwards settled into our cosy RV for a good night's rest.

Some of the old riverside buildings of yesteryear.

I have just six days before leaving for New Zealand and still have some details to take care of, this is why blogging is having to wait until I have time.

Mother Nature at Her Best

Last night as we drove home after a meeting, the moon was full, and brightly lit our way home.
This morning it was hanging fairly low on the horizon just above the rosy pink clouds being painted by the first rays of sunrise. How gorgeous a sight this is.

What kind of movies do chickens watch?

Finally, a sunset

The days lately have been so drab and dreary without any sunshine, so it was nice to see the sun yesterday and today. As I drove up our road to the house tonight, I could see we were in for a lovely sunset. I came in the door, greeted MrC before picking up my camera and going out on to the deck to catch the last of the sunset colors before they faded into the night's velvet blackness.

I have busy since returning from Reno, so blogging has been on a back burner and will probably remain so for a while. The countdown until I leave for my visit to New Zealand has started in earnest. 13 days from tomorrow.
I confess to feelings of excitement now the time is so near, and have started to pack some of the things I plan on taking with me. Making lists is a good thing, I think it has something with age as I find I forget things, dang it anyway! So there are many check marks on the list as the items are placed in one of the suitcases.
Well, that is all for now, I remember something else to be packed and if I don't go and do it now, I will forget. *chuckle*

GBR RENDEZVOUS- Banquet

Saturday night we all congregated in the Mandalay room for a prime rib dinner. After we had eaten Terri and I sold envelopes with a playing card in each one. These were for donated prizes of gift certificates, a very nice range bag(I was lucky to win the bag) and the top prize a Hi-Point pistol. A photo copy of the winning card for the pistol had been sealed in an envelope and mailed to MrC by Hi-Point Firearms, to be opened once all the envelopes containing the playing cards had been sold.
The funds from the raffle were given to Charles "Chuck" Ziegenfuss our guest of honor and founder of Project Valour-IT, towards another voice activated laptop.
Project Valour-IT provides voice-controlled software and laptop computers to wounded military men and women, who are unable to use their arms or hands because of injuries or amputations.
Chuck, told us the story about how he was injured while serving in Iraq and how a voice activated laptop computer changed his life. He also told us about the idea he had, to get more laptops for injured military men and women resulting in the inception of Project Valour-IT

Some of the gang waiting to see if their number is going to be drawn for a prize.

We also had many door prizes, some are pictured below.

And the lucky winner is........

Chuck and Terri

Terri was the lucky winner of the Hi-Point 9mm pistol which she graciously donated to Chuck. Like her husband JimmyB says "my wife rocks" and indeed she does.

Chuck Ziegenfuss also told us a story about a wounded soldier who had lost both legs and one arm, and how his life has been drastically changed from the moment he received his voice-activated laptop. He is able to use voice commands to activate the laptop, to send and receive emails from friends and loved ones, surf the ‘Net, and communicate with his friends still in the field without having to use his one remaining arm. How wonderful is that?

I sure was choked up hearing such a touching story and know, this is one organization I will support. I encourage all of you to donate to this very worthy cause. So far over two thousand laptops have been donated and many more are needed.

You may make a donation Here

I don't know about any of the other Gun Bloggers, but I returned home exhausted a combination of too much good food, lots of conversation, gambling, shooting, and not enough sleep. I am looking forward to next years Rendezvous.

Dear God

A little boy wanted $100.00 very badly and prayed for weeks, but nothing happened. Then he decided to write God a letter requesting the $100.00.

When the postal authorities received the letter to God, USA, they decided to send it to the President.

The president was so amused that he instructed his secretary to send the little boy a $5.00 bill. The president thought this would appear to be a lot of money to a little boy.

The little boy was delighted with the $5.00 bill and sat down to write a thank-you note to God, which read: Dear God: Thank you very much for sending the money. However, I noticed that for some reason you sent it through Washington, DC, and those guys deducted $95.00 in taxes.

Range day in Reno

On Saturday before driving out to the Palomino Valley Gun Club for a day of shooting many different guns, most of us went back to Flavors for a buffet breakfast. This being our third day in Reno and my having eaten way too much last night at the seafood buffet, and the previous two days, I was not feeling overly hungry. I decided to tag along with MrC as he made his selection from the buffet and had him place a small muffin on his plate so I would at least have something to go with my coffee. As I was snacking on the delicious muffin I heard a waiter ask, " anyone for some champagne?" "Yes please" I said, and was given a small glass of the bubbly stuff. There is nothing quite like a bran muffin, orange juice, coffee and champagne to start the morning, right? *chuckle*
Off to the range we drove, paid our fees and set up for a day of fun. MrC and I did not bring any guns of our own to Reno, but there were plenty there to shoot.

There were many shooters lined up at the stations at this very nice facility.

Chris setting the sights on the target

Chuck Zeigenfuss, our guest of Honor at the banquet Saturday evening. More about this wonderful young man in my next post.

Notice how far out some of those targets are, and there are more you cannot see in the far distance. US Citizen had a 50 caliber conversion on an AR-15 which was hitting a 12" target at 965 yards, that is around half a mile. When I was standing about six feet behind and to the right of the gun when it was fired, I swear the concussion parted my hair. It was awesome indeed and when MrC asked if I would like to shoot it, I was thankful he was just joking.

Fodder shooting his 45 caliber Thompson Tommy gun, which I got to shoot, and had a blast, pun intended.

Larry has just fired one down range.

Mel getting her sight picture before blasting a few holes in the target.

Is MrC having way too much fun or what?

Joe Huffman of Boomershoot fame, well at least the back of the tee shirt he was wearing.

Kevin appears to have plenty of ammo to keep him busy for a while!!

After a fantastic day of shooting, we packed up and returned to Circus Circus to make ready for our banquet.

Gun Blogger Rendezvous

We arrived in Reno, Nevada around 12:30pm on Thursday 11th October for the 2nd annual G.B.R. Grabbed our checked luggage from the carousel and made our way out of the terminal to find the shuttle to transport us to the Circus Circus hotel where the rendezvous was to be held.

MrC and I checked in at the reservations desk, then took the elevator up to the 18th floor to our mini suite. Of course the first thing I do upon arriving in our room, is to open the curtains and check the view from the rooms. As usual it is parking lots, rooftops and casinos I see.

The globe houses the Mining Machine in the Silver Legacy hotel/casino.

The lights on all the buildings cloak the ugliness of all the rooftop parking lots.

After getting our bags unpacked, we rode the elevator back down to the third floor to the Tahoe Room. This room we had booked as our hospitality room, where we could all hang out, use as a meeting place before venturing out to meals or the range, and somewhere for our meeting with the NRA on Friday afternoon
On Thursday evening, over pizza in the hospitality room, all the gun bloggers who had arrived so far, sat around for a story swapping/BS session.

Friday morning, many of us gathered at a buffet for breakfast. I was somewhat confused when we approached the restaurant as the name of the place was not as I remembered it from last year, and the front seemed to be missing some of the decorations I remembered. The mystery was solved when I noticed a signpost with the old name, The Victorian still clearly visible. I wonder why they changed the name to Flavors.

Some of the gang enjoying their first, second or perhaps third plate of wonderful food from the buffet.

Have you any idea how difficult it is for a Weight Watchers member, such as myself, to show restraint when making good choices. Choices? heck, it was like placing a bowl of chocolate, whipped cream topped, ice cream in front of me and saying " you can have just one bite!
I was not about to choose. Instead I had everything I fancied, just a smaller portion, and loved every mouthful, and not one feeling of guilt. *grin*

Eggs, sausage, and lots of bacon for JimmyB

Donuts, coffee cake, sweet rolls and much more to choose from.

Yes, they also had fruit and cereal for those of us who wanted to watch their waistlines, though I can't remember anyone in that category on this occasion.

Cakes of every kind. Drool!!
I suppose by now you have figured out that I have a sweet tooth, and no, I did not have cake for breakfast, I waited until the evening meal.

At 2pm on Friday afternoon the Gun Bloggers met back in the hospitality room for a meeting with Glen Caroline and Ashley Varner of the NRA. Glen's job is to encourage us to not only pay our yearly dues to be a member of the NRA, but to become actively involved in speaking out for the Defenders of the right to arms. Ashley's job is to be a "public face" for the NRA and gun owners.
There was much discussion, with both sides, NRA and us gun bloggers and gun owners. voicing our views and opinions on various topics. I got the impression that it was somewhat heated at times, but not in an angry fashion. After the discussions were over, notes written down by Glen and the dust had settled the gun bloggers had a "show and tell"
Larry Weeks from Brownell's, brought us some great tee shirts, hats and other products and also talked to us about some magazines the company is manufacturing for the military, and other things about the company he has worked for, for I think he said, 26 years.
There were guns all of kinds proudly shown by their owners. I must admit, I do not know much about the different kind of guns, but I did get to shoot several wonderful weapons on Saturday out at the range. There will be more pictures of our "day at the range" soon.

Reno-day four

I have not been posting, as we have been way too busy running around, and generally having a great time.
I never thought the day would arrive, when I would voluntarily skip breakfast, but today was the first. There is a very good buffet where we have been enjoying a healthy breakfast and then dinner, then last evening we had our banquet. OMG waaaaay too much food for me. This morning, many of the bloggers and spouses were to meet for breakfast, but the thought of more food made me feel nauseous, so I stayed up in our room and MrC went down and probably ate my share as well as his own.
The weather is beautiful, so Mrc and I are meeting up with friends in 30 minutes, to go and visit the automobile museum then for a walk along the river. I have taken many pictures and will be taking more to show you when we arrive back home.
We will be back home Monday evening, so I should have something for you to see probably Wednesday.

From Reno Nevada

Hello folks, here we are sitting in our mini suite at Circus Circus on the 17th floor, looking out at rooftop carparks and other casinos in the distance. We left Whidbey Island at 7am this morning and arrived in Reno around12:30pm.
As usual there are many, many folks throwing money in the slot machines hoping for the "big win" In fact as soon as you leave the plane, and enter the airport in Reno, there are a couple of rows of slot machines. This time I plan on saving my cash for next month, when I visit New Zealand. OK I will throw perhaps $10 in he winning slot machine and come home a millionaire (chuckle)
That is all for now, we are going to finish up our sandwich, the go explore a little.
bye for now.

Thought for the day

Whakatauki, or proverb from the Maori of New Zealand.

Whakatauki have a translation and a meaning. The meaning is usually based on Tikanga or history. This word only gives the translation of the whakatauki.


Aroha mai, aroha atu

Love towards us, love going out from us

29 days and counting down!

I really haven't been goofin' off this past week, it just has been a very busy time. By the time evening rolled around, my brain was too tired for blogging.

Besides working a couple of days , then spending an extra day at work for a training session I have been doing the usual housework, cleaning up around the garden and doing a little more shopping in readiness for my trip to New Zealand oh yes, I also made a run to the bank for more travelers checks. Need to have some extra spending money, just in case something really special, catches my eye and says "buy me"

I think I am all organized and ready for my looooong flight on November 5th. From here on out, the waiting is going to drive me crazy, although MrC and I will be flying down to Reno on Thursday and spending five days at the Gun Blogger Rendezvous so that will take my mind off my visit to Aotearoa for a while.

I did have a little senior moment, in that I forgot I lose two days as I travel down under and had made arrangements to pick up my rental car and check into my accommodations on the 5th. sheesh!! this is the day I leave USA I arrive in N Zed (what some of us Kiwis call home) on Wednesday the 7th. Now all this has been taken care of I should be able to rest easy.
Tomorrow I get to work the morning shift, filling in for the other Desk Diva, and by golly, when I get home I am going to REST!

Photograph taken on a windy day, up at Deception pass last weekend.

A little range time, and some sight seeing.

Both Saturday and Sunday, MrC and I spent time at CWSA range. Saturday was a bowling pin match where I timed in rather well, but unfortunately was knocked out early on when I came up against one of the best shooters in the club.

Sunday was a falling steel plate match, which is one of my favorites. I did rather well in placing 5th with Chris.
After the match on Sunday we decided to drive north as far as Burlington so MrC could go to Sportsman's Warehouse to pick up more ammunition as the price is going up soon.
I decided to take my camera along, to take shots of Whidbey Island to take back to New Zealand with me in November as I want my family to see this beautiful part of the world I am living in.

On the way home we pulled into a parking area so I could take pictures of Deception Pass bridge which you have to cross, to get to and from the northern tip of Whidbey Island.
To say this bridge is spectacular is an understatement. You can get an idea how far above the water and how large a structure it is, just by comparing the size of vehicles crossing the bridge with the structure and the drop into the water below.

We drove down through the quite lovely Deception State Park to the North Beach where we walked the beach and viewed the bridge from below. I was imagining the work which went into the construction of this beautiful bridge over the treacherous waters below.

Two trees cling to a huge rock on the shore, framing the log strewn beach.

Even though it had been raining, and there was a very cool breeze blowing, our exploration of this lovely place was most enjoyable, and all without the summertime crowds of tourists and people on holiday.