Brown seaweeds
One of New Zealand’s most common brown seaweeds is Neptune’s necklace (Hormosira banksii), with its chains of beads. This is a hardy species, able to withstand time out of water. In sheltered sites it can grow up to half a metre in length, with beads of 2–3 cm in diameter; a smaller form grows on open coasts.
(Thanks to Te Aro - Encyclopaedia of NZ for above information.)
The 'common brick'!
A favourite subject for photos, these old posts that form an old groyne.
(A groyne is a low wall or sturdy timber barricade built to halt wave-erosion.)
Going by the sand-dune erosion evident here, I don't think it's working. A huge storm last winter cut into the sand banks, exposing the back of playing fields and leaving the area between land and sea a little smaller than it was previously. Sadly, the golden sand hills have been replaced with unsightly, scrubby, rocky debris. Maybe one day the ocean will return all the sand it took away.
The groyne is a very old landmark of St Clair beach. Some of the posts look like they have faces.
They put me in mind of Ned Kelly, or some washed-up knights in rusty armour struggling ashore.
Like most shores, the sand level at St Clair and St Kilda beaches, rises and falls. Some years these posts are buried to within a few centimetres, their 'faces' under sand and just the tops of their heads visible. That is a lot of sand to dump, sometimes all in just one storm.
Rusty Nail aka 'The Rock Climber.'
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The new job is going well, although I am re-discovering some muscles I had forgotten I had. Moving from sitting at ground-level with the babies, to standing, takes a bit of effort for my age-ing joints.
I am enjoying having more available time. Time to write. (I just have to do it now.)
Reading: A book on some famous poets given to me for Xmas by M&K. I find it a mixture: inspiring and daunting ...
Listening: To music to entertain babies by ... I put together a cd for work with music that ranges from Daft Punk to Nana Mouskouri. From 'Video Killed the Radio Star' to 'Stupid Cupid'. Also includes Postal Service and Múm. (I'm mulling over including The Mountain Goats and The Pixies.)
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23 comments:
It's lovely! I once interviewed an old lifesaver who lived above the beach there and he told me a story of a fishing trip he and some friends took during the war.
They came back after dark, and after curfew, and knew the groynes were out there somewhere and that if they were spotted, there were soldiers up on the cliff guarding Dunedin's coastline.
They were glad to make it in safely ...
Oh, these are great photos. I like your take on those posts - knights struggling to get ashore. That's exactly how I saw them! I'm glad the job's going well - even if muscles are being exercised - and that it gives you more time to write. That's got to be a major plus! :-)
CB,
Good to see you blossoming again with both word and imagination.
The analogy of the face belonging to knights was just "on the nail head" perfect.
rel
*love* the photos!
Fun Photos! I think those posts look like Japanese snow monkeys....
Glad your new job is going well, and that you like it. Sounds as if it's keeping you busy enough, if not as busy as the last one. Don't forget to make time to write!
PS When I get down on the floor, I have to crawl on all fours to a chair or something solid to climb up on....
I like groins and breakwaters too - ain't they just photogenic?
Glad the new job is going well, with plenty of time off to pursue the important stuff!
P.S "Groins" should be "Groynes" - a Freudian slip, maybe?
turning the pictorial blog into an artform...
Ooooh, thanks for reminding me of Video Killed the Radio Star--I will dig that out forthwith!!
Great photos, CB. I am such a shallow person I would have trouble speaking seriously of groynes, especially old ones,out loud anyway. Tee hee, oh you mean the GROYNE groyne.What fascinating history.
b
ur posts are like a virtual tour of your country and i love it. :) these sea weeds sure look common and the gyrones too. there is something mysterious about them. like they know a secret or something!
Both a visual and verbal personification that is so perfectly fitting. That is powerful and warming.
Thank you, Chief. Be well.
It's been far too long since I came over here and admired your beautiful photos. I love the deep red of that brick.
Great photos. And I'm so happy that the new job is working out. You'll start writing soon.
Happy St Paddys...I agree with Pepek.. I saw monkeys..such cool photos...
Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the Impressora e Multifuncional, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://impressora-multifuncional.blogspot.com. A hug.
Lovely picture, Portobello beach here has groynes too, they add real atmosphere to a beach.
Glad to hear the new job is going well, I can sympathise on the muscles thing, holding babies is hard work, especially when they're tiny with no control themselves to spread the weight.
Pleased to hear you've got time to write too.
Chief, I tagged you for a meme on my site. It's rather introspective but doesn't require much "doing"...just some thought. Let me know if/when you might get around to it!
Be well, Chief.
Thanks everyone for your super-duper comments - as always they cheer and bolster me. I am being lazy and responding with this one-for-all comment. Please forgive. :)
Great shapes.
Art is where you find it.
Thanks for telling the name of that seaweed and for introducing me to the word 'groyne.'
Hey Chief! Thanks for visiting my blog! Its great to see pics of your beach! woo hoo!
Easter blessings to you, Chief!
wonderful series of photos, I like the 'faces'! Glad the new job is going well.
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