January 9th Dusk on the West Coast

Tonight we headed out to Raglan to have dinner and catch up with family. The Chicken Pox scare has lifted with the Grandies and we were well overdue for some quality time and hugs.

First up dinner - and if you are going to have a Fish n Chips Dinner when in Raglan, then down at the wharf is the best place to buy them. Fresh Fish Fresh off the Boat (try saying that tongue twister twenty times!) We had heart palpitations when we first saw this sign but all ended well

That was dinner sorted. We were then treated to a show by Havana and Samara. And of course being proud grandparents we thought it was the best dancing we have ever seen and certainly beat any shows we had to pay exorbitant admittance prices to.

Time to finish the evening off with pastoral views of Mt Karioi

Then the clock tolled and we thought we had better head back to the busy metropolis of Hamilton City (which is not really busy and only a 30 to 40 minute drive away).  Waiting to cross the one way vehicle bridge that has been in Raglan forever.

Yes that is Black Sand. The West Coast of NZ (in this part of the North Island) is predominantly black sand. However I am not sure it is as Black as it used to be when I was a child and I put this down to the amount of Iron Ore Mining happening further down the coast here.