BOO!

GC

Had a few days at Broadbeach including work.

Interesting.

Cold, sunny, rain, windy, hot out of the wind when the sun was out!

Lots of construction work going on to prep for the 2018 commonwealth games, impressive.

Highlights for me were walking on the beach, family time, my little mate J, a lovely apartment in Synergy, shopping at the new Pacific Fair (did I say that shopping word?) and shooting live rounds with a bloody powerful 44 magnum pistol.

Lowlights were Jupiters Casino where we were asked to leave because kids are not allowed in the bar there after 6. So we left (4 adults) and there was no one left! But more than that the place is dead as far as non gambling entertainment is concerned. A big contrast to times past.

Next lowlight was losing my iPad but some honest person handed it in. So really thats a highlight.

Biggest bummer was catching a virus and three of us got sick and are still sick.

Oh and we got the work done as well.

Ok so here are a few photos from my iPhone.

Looking down on Broadbeach area from 21 stories up

 Early morning walking to Surfers

 Our view toward NZ. We could see the sea...just....

 Looking north toward Surfers from the room

 Stunning new buildings at Surfers

 On the Carousel with J. A bad selfy

 It's like Miami

South Beach Miami

A couple of art deco buildings at the back on my hotel. This is one of the few spots in the US where a hell of a lot is going on day AND night but its got this relaxed almost friendly atmosphere and the buildings are somethings else. Great street music and eating out is what you do. It's warm year round.

Lovely white sand beaches. I might dig out some more of these shots.

On the street

Meanwhile at the Miami Boat Show. My Italian buddy, Luca, with a couple of 'friends'...

 More street

Almost Space

If you have flown high over North America this will be familiar (if you had a window seat)

You feel like you are in space. Most of the landscape between California and the East coast looks like  desert with the occasional farmed and obviously irrigated splashes of land like in this shot.

 Coming into Florida

 Heavily populated areas surrounded by water (and no doubt all sorts of animals hungry for a taste of human...)

Keno & Jay-dog

Uncle Ken and Jayden hanging out at the Phoenix sharing technology stuff... a likely pair!

Waikato Today

Driving back from Auckland today. between the Hamilton Auckland highway and Tahuna. This is a field of  'something' that is bright green and stunning when the lighting his changable.

Heron Revisit

Take off, undercarriage still down..

 Stealth configuration 

Zirka Circus Came To Town

 All wrapped up for the night.

New Zealand's first completely new circus in years.

Sun Over Mauao

Right up the lens! Can burn your eyes out if you don't take care.

Early Morning Tauranga

 Just before sunrise the reflections on windows and wet roads have a life of their own

Saturday Harbour Yacht Race

Shimmering in the cool northerly haze

Early Morning Mirage

Early morning looking from Tauranga out through the harbour entrance 

The dredge caught with the sunrise shimmers in the haze

400mm telephoto lens

 A container ship in the same light

Passing each other

Such Neat Kids

Thomas & Grace

Great grandkids and yes they are friends....and adversaries time to time! You know what its like....

Siblings, you love them and share life with them but its no guarantee of a blissful relationship all the time. I have to say I enjoy the banter that goes down between them. But when it counts they look after each other,

From The Tauranga Harbour Bridge

Before sunrise this morning. It was cold with a southerly breeze. I was in shorts and freezing but with a good beanie in place on the bald head I waited for the light.

These shots taken from various places on the bridge.

The colours only lasted for a short time. But it was worth the early start.

Container Wharf

 Towards Tauranga Township

Towards Welcome Bay

 Container Storage Area 

 Old Apartments Near The Rose Gardens.

New When I Was In My Teens

 Intersection At The Western End Of The Bridge

Heron

Extra Low Tide Today

Out on the Matua mudflats while the tide was extra low today.

 Life was everywhere!

Swans have moved in for now, way out on the flats.

 Herons are in for a treat because of the extra low tide.

White Boats

Tauranga marina. Early morning.

Old Brain Young Brain

Jay and Pop decided to download a game on our iPad.

We were both challenged!

Cross Country

Nana went to see the rats run their annual race.

Thomas came 14th

Grace, on the right, came 4th 

Great effort you two.

Safe As

Well maybe.

So I always like to see a room safe when staying in a hotel.

Just a precaution now, having been robbed in San Fransisco many years ago. (from my hotel room)

So yesterday at Rotorua hotel I found the safe and went to open the door to discover that it was a mobile version! Nice and compact for anyone to carry off. Nice........