A Walk in the Park

As we enter our seventh week in lockdown it’s easy for me to forgot just how hard this can be for others. That’s not to say that we are living the Life of Riley - the novelty of being able to stay in pyjamas all day wore off a long time ago - but we do have it quite good. Okay, I’m underselling that, we have it pretty darn good really. All things being considered.

We’ve got a comfortable and safe house, putting aside mishaps with boiling water and accidentally giving myself concussion by banging my head on the front step....don't ask, and we have a nice view out of the window. But above all that, we have Auckland Domain on our doorstep. Yes, having one of Auckland's best parks within a few hundred metres of our house has been a lifeline, and at 75 hectares it's one of the largest, at least according to Wikipedia!. It's so close that even the most hard-nosed of hard-nosed policeman wouldn't be able to grumble about us not sticking to the rules and staying within our local area. Good job really, because we spend an awful lot of time in there!

It’s a beautiful space and we’re so lucky to have it as our backyard, especially now it’s spring. At the moment it’s a riot of colour and life which makes our government morning constitutional so much more pleasant. This morning was particularly pleasant - the cold wind had abated and the sun was making its presence felt. In fact it was so nice, I just have to share some photos........

Stepping out of the front door this morning one could almost forget Auckland was in lockdown. In fact, if we didn't have the park, we wouldn't have to go far to get amongst some greenery. It's just a shame that the driveway is only 100m long.

A quick walk up the street and across Parnell Road and then we're in the park. This is usually a much busier road. Maybe lockdowns aren't so bad after all?

Signs of life. Plants are coming up already. I’m tempted to call these Snowdrops but I really haven’t got a clue

This old tree fascinates me. It looks like something out of a Tim Burton movie. Kids love climbing in the branches and playing hide and seek amongst the roots. 

Poppies! Does anyone not like these flowers? Guaranteed to cheer anyone up.

The pond was still this morning - almost a perfect reflection.

Hey, shouldn’t you lot be in the pond? 

Football Road and the first sight of Auckland’s Skytower. 

When tulips are like this I can see why people fought over them.

This innocent looking bench is actually an instrument of torture. We meet our trainer here on Saturday mornings in the summer.....the bench plays a key part in the pain!

More colour near the Sensory Garden

The view from the museum out across Hauraki Gulf toward Rangitoto is wonderful. This is a popular spot to exercise and take in the view - a bit quieter today though. 

And there you have it - the total trip if you were to walk it takes around 40 minutes to complete - so I've saved you a bit of time there. If you had more time, there's a Fernery, Wintergardens and tree covered slopes to enjoy. For those who are a little more activity minded, the loop around the sports fields is a convenient and flat 1 mile long. On a normal day, The Sri Chinmoy Peace Mile is a blaze of running vests, your's truly included. Not today though. I'm in no rush and don't feel the need to test my stamina. Instead I've taken it easy and enjoyed the sights, smells and sounds of Auckland Domain. Running can wait. Besides, there's aways tomorrow......