2020 Paparoa Show

Yesterday was going to be another boring day at home for me until I read online that the Paparoa A & P Show (Agricultural and Pastoral) was on, I had forgotten about it.  I probably wouldn't have gone until I asked my other half if he was working over there, luckily he was so I got him to drop me off and pick me up later. Moving along...this is one of the food trucks they have there - now if you haven't tried a bacon butty or a seafood fritter you're not living. Bacon Butties - bacon sandwiches. Seafood fritters - a type of fritter that is full of seafood, like oysters, mussels, fish etc.

This is an event that attracts people from all of the surrounding areas. Paparoa for us is a very small country town about 35 minutes away - it's very much a farming region so local farmers will bring their stock to show. This family bought pigs, lambs and goats so people could experience like a petting zoo.

Unfortunately we are still in the midst of a drought here, we haven't had rain since last November and with it being Summer here the temperatures have been in the late 20s early 30s - there has been word from the weather forecasters that we are due for 40 degrees celsius next week.  This area is for the horses and rodeo - I'm not a fan of roping and catching cows but that's just me.  These were some of the riders warming up for the event.

This guy was more than happy to pose for my camera shot - he was part of the rodeo too.  A bit of info about Paparoa: there is a population there of about 270 people. It has a hugely rich history of Maori tribal warfare and settlement in Colonial times. In the 19th century it became a major shipping and boat-building centre when Kauri milling was an industry.

As I was here in the first couple of hours this photo was taken looking out over the horse trailers that were being set up - more would've been here as the day progressed. I did end up seeing one of my best friends there though so it was good to catch up with her.

Another event was calf showing. 2 of my children when they were growing up took part in calf club, where they were given a calf by a local farmer, they met up once a week to get to know the calf, train it and then the calves were taken to school for their calf club day - if their calf behaved and they lead it around the ring well they were given ribbons for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

This was the senior calf showing event, they would've had junior later on. As you can see in the background the land looks quite dry. They must've had a bit of rain here as the grass in this picture is still green. Where we live everything is brown, we haven't had rain since last November so we are desperate for some moisture. We have had temperatures going into the 20s, 30s  but next week 40 degrees celsius has been predicted.

I love these guys. Can't ever beat a Scottish Highland Band - the sound of the bagpipes is just awesome. After spending a couple of hours here my other half picked me up so thankfully I was back in the air-conditioning of his work truck.

Just to be clear there would've been way more events happening after I left such as wood chopping, equestrian and sheep shearing, I just couldn't stay any longer.

Kauri Bushmans Memorial Reserve

The other half and I drove out to Paparoa yesterday, about a 20 minute drive away to visit the Kauri Bushman's Walk - it's nice to see at their entrance they have a system for people to clean their shoes because of Kauri Dieback Disease which is killing many of our native trees.

Kauri dieback disease is something that infects these trees - it gets in at the root and causes root rot, bleeding of resin and yellowing of the leaves, eventually it kills them.

This was a relatively short walk - think it took us about 15 minutes to walk around the loop but there wasn't anyone else but us so it was quiet and peaceful.

Not a big a forest as Waipoua for instance where Tane Mahuta lives but it's an easy walk so good for little ones.

This plaque next to the entry explains that the reserve was purchased in 1954 by the Kauri Bushman's Association Bird and Forest Protection Society of Whangarei and the Otamatea County Council. It was dedicated to the memory of pre-first world war Kauri bushmen who worked before 1914 when the area was first being settled.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday.

Top of the Goldschmidt Track

Near the carpark at our surf beach we have a walk called the Goldschmidt track named after a local family who have organized many walking weekends in our town. I've done this a couple of times now, it's pretty easy and only takes about 30 minutes up and down.

About halfway up the sandy steps this was the view out over the carpark and the estuary. Lucky it was pretty quiet but come Summer this place will be packed with visitors.

This one I believe is dog friendly but there are quite a few that aren't due to some areas being kiwi breeding colonies or fairy tern egg nesting spots.

The way down was a bit more rocky than the way up I think due to alot of rain that we had then. Sadly about a week after I took these photos a group of people were seen on CCTV lighting fireworks on the hill which caught alight and caused a ton of damage. We had the local volunteer fire service there plus 8 other brigades from as far as Ruawai and Whangarei helping out. I'm not sure if they caught the culprits yet.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Old farm silos in Matakohe

I just love countryside - these old farm silos and barn are located in Matakohe, on the Kauri Coast in the Kaipara region of Northland. It use to be a regular feature when I worked up this way a few years back.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday :-)

Hello Mr Tane Mahuta!

I'd like you to meet Mr Tane Mahuta, not my other half in in the foreground but the big massive tree in the background. This giant Kauri tree is the feature in Kaipara's Waipoua Forest. He is not alone, there are other Kauri trees in the forest but he is the largest at with a width of 1.377m and a height of 51.2m. It's age is estimated to be between 1200 and 2500 years old

The Waipoua Forest is located on the Kauri Coast of the Kaipara. In 1885 the forest came under the care of the State Forest Act and an area of 90km was put under the State Forests Reserve.

If there's one thing I love about exploring bush walks and native reserves it's all the different types of plants and trees.

The Waipoua Forest Trust was set up in 1999 to protect the Kauri forests in this region.

Volunteers take part in weeding previously planted areas, maintaining the ground, collecting seeds, and monitoring pests such as possums ans rats.

Waipoua and neighbouring forests of Mataraua and Waima make up the largest remaining area of native forest in Northland.

These were the only range of mushrooms I could find on the forest floor, most likely because there hadn't been alot of rain there lately.