Tranquillity

A quiet wander along the beach led my cousin S and I to the mouth of the Thornton River with Whale Island in the distance - all was calm and very tranquil.

Whale Island is a small uninhabited island about 12km north of Whakatane. The island has numerous sites of pa (Maori fortified villages). It also provided shelter for James Cook's Endeavour in 1769. A whaling station existed on the island during the 19th century. In 1965 it was declared as a wildlife refuge and today is covered with native plantings and grassland.

Many thanks for your kind words, stars and hearts for yesterday's sunset behind Princess Wairaka, she made the spotlight page, thank you. I've had a small mirgraine so it was a quiet stroll at the beach and a fairly relaxing day - tomorrow will be a full day of stocktake.

Hope your all having a good week :)