After an indoor day yesterday we needed some exercise so went for a walk along the beach to Waitangi. As the day went on the weather improved and by evening the sea was back to calm and blue – a vast contrast from yesterday.

However the waves were still crashing on to this beach – which is usually very calm with waves gently lapping the shore – so the local boys were out in their optimists (I think!!) having a ball surfing the waves.

There is quite a bit of damage around Paihia with broken windows, flooded basements, and debris on the road, but [url=http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/4115970]this is the worst [/url]that we saw. Although when the sea was calmer we did see a submerged boat in our bay, bobbing around barely visible from the shore – not a good time for owners who did not take their boats to sheltered waters.