Day Twenty-Three - Tempestuous, Tropical & Totally Mad
I made it to the beach today.
The day was generally windy and unpleasant, with pockets of sunny respite, but the beach had a sense of extreme calm about it. Although the sky over land was stormy and full of black clouds, there was a surprising "moody day in the tropics" feel about being on the beach. Impossible to capture on camera.
The colours were intense, the air was warm, the water was calm, small waves gently lapping the shore. There were just a couple of couples way down each of the far ends. And me.
I wasn't expecting tropical elements to my walk today and was taken aback at what a pleasant escapade it was, despite thinking I'd have to bail before I even got as far as the beach.
I went for a paddle and the water was warm. Suddenly, fish were jumping high out of the water right in front of me. I quickly switched to video and captured them. There were quite a lot of them and boy could they jump. Here's a quick look.
The walk home was full of tuis singing and flitting from tree to tree. No rain. All good.
Later in the afternoon it rained as hard and heavy as I've seen in a very long time. A good dose of country rain to top up the tank and water the grass that is trying to sprout.
The weather can't seem to make up its mind.
Brunch: BLAT
Dinner: Michael's chicken pesto pasta. Third time lucky! He had to go to Matakana twice today on the chicken run. They had none the first time. Truck coming later they said. He went back later and then got busy in the kitchen. A superb meal, not a morsel left.
Friend Cec's birthday today so a crew of us had Birthday Lockdown Zoom drinks and it was fun.
Cec switched between several zany hats to mark the occasion and we all had a wine glass in hand!
Apart from all that excitement, it was another day spent mostly on the computer.
SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Free Solo madness ...
Michael and I settled in to watch the movie Free Solo about Alex Honnold climbing El Capitan in Yosemite - no ropes. It covered the practice build-up, his background, his home for 10 years (a van), his girlfriend, his film crew and all the bits and pieces that make up this unusual man.
His training regime ... OMG, the guy does chin-ups hanging by one finger on each hand. The strength is impressive beyond words.
Then it was time for the climb itself. It was truly agonising to watch, even though we knew he made it safely. I felt physically sick the whole way. How he scaled that cliff face is something I can't even begin to fathom. One tiny wrong move - dead.
They say it's possibly the most incredible feat accomplished by an athlete - and after seeing that film, I'd have to agree. We watched in awe and terror. Neither of us could figure out what on earth would make someone want to do that but he obviously can't imagine life without it.
A gripping and inspiring film about the skill and focus required to perform something that seems utterly impossible.
It demonstrates a strength of mind and body that is all-consuming and super-human.
It also showcases sheer and utter madness!
And what did Alex do as soon as he'd finished his mind-blowing climb?
Go and hang by his fingers to prepare for the next one, wherever it may be.
The guy is definitely not your every-day character that's for sure.
And must have the strongest fingers in the world.
And talking of tropical ... here's a painting I did many years ago now. Called "Boat on a Tropical Sea" (the boat has a lot of texture) it now hangs in our bedroom at Omaha.
The day was generally windy and unpleasant, with pockets of sunny respite, but the beach had a sense of extreme calm about it. Although the sky over land was stormy and full of black clouds, there was a surprising "moody day in the tropics" feel about being on the beach. Impossible to capture on camera.
The colours were intense, the air was warm, the water was calm, small waves gently lapping the shore. There were just a couple of couples way down each of the far ends. And me.
I wasn't expecting tropical elements to my walk today and was taken aback at what a pleasant escapade it was, despite thinking I'd have to bail before I even got as far as the beach.
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| Omaha Beach photo of the day - tranquility despite the wind and black clouds |
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| Looking back to land |
I went for a paddle and the water was warm. Suddenly, fish were jumping high out of the water right in front of me. I quickly switched to video and captured them. There were quite a lot of them and boy could they jump. Here's a quick look.
Jumping fish!
The walk home was full of tuis singing and flitting from tree to tree. No rain. All good.
Later in the afternoon it rained as hard and heavy as I've seen in a very long time. A good dose of country rain to top up the tank and water the grass that is trying to sprout.
The weather can't seem to make up its mind.
Brunch: BLAT
Dinner: Michael's chicken pesto pasta. Third time lucky! He had to go to Matakana twice today on the chicken run. They had none the first time. Truck coming later they said. He went back later and then got busy in the kitchen. A superb meal, not a morsel left.
Friend Cec's birthday today so a crew of us had Birthday Lockdown Zoom drinks and it was fun.
Cec switched between several zany hats to mark the occasion and we all had a wine glass in hand!
Apart from all that excitement, it was another day spent mostly on the computer.
SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Free Solo madness ...
Michael and I settled in to watch the movie Free Solo about Alex Honnold climbing El Capitan in Yosemite - no ropes. It covered the practice build-up, his background, his home for 10 years (a van), his girlfriend, his film crew and all the bits and pieces that make up this unusual man.
His training regime ... OMG, the guy does chin-ups hanging by one finger on each hand. The strength is impressive beyond words.
Then it was time for the climb itself. It was truly agonising to watch, even though we knew he made it safely. I felt physically sick the whole way. How he scaled that cliff face is something I can't even begin to fathom. One tiny wrong move - dead.
They say it's possibly the most incredible feat accomplished by an athlete - and after seeing that film, I'd have to agree. We watched in awe and terror. Neither of us could figure out what on earth would make someone want to do that but he obviously can't imagine life without it.
A gripping and inspiring film about the skill and focus required to perform something that seems utterly impossible.
It demonstrates a strength of mind and body that is all-consuming and super-human.
It also showcases sheer and utter madness!
And what did Alex do as soon as he'd finished his mind-blowing climb?
Go and hang by his fingers to prepare for the next one, wherever it may be.
The guy is definitely not your every-day character that's for sure.
And must have the strongest fingers in the world.
And talking of tropical ... here's a painting I did many years ago now. Called "Boat on a Tropical Sea" (the boat has a lot of texture) it now hangs in our bedroom at Omaha.
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