Determination

After such a busy day yesterday, the start this morning needed to be a little more gentle, and I had just a half hour run. Saw and photographed some pukeko, but couldn't get close enough with the small camera to really show the colours. A slightly chaotic time in the morning ended with piling into the car and out to Scott Landing again.

When the boys' mother and her siblings were young we used to come here only at low tide in order to get across to the island, as at high tide the beach was inaccessible except by boat. We were unaware of just how wonderful the beach is for swimming; at low tide it becomes deep very quickly. At some time since then, a board walk access has been provided from the car park, and this is now a fabulous and safe beach for families. We had three gloriously sunny and hot hours here.

Took a lot of different sorts of shots; gulls, seaweed, boats, the bay, and of course the grandchildren. In a quiet state, a hyperactive state, a highly imaginative joint game, solitary contemplation, and solitary action as in the photo I eventually chose.

Young L had been playing with his big brother with buckets and spades in the shelly sand, until Mr H decided to go and lie in the shade. Younger brother continued to play and, needing water, began running into the sea with his wee shovel to gather some and take it back to the bucket. Just before he realised the logic of taking the bucket out to the water, I got this shot which shows his intensity and activity.

I have just cropped it slightly, otherwise it is as was taken, using the long lens, hand held.