Parmaston North to Gisbourne via Napier

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Parmaston North to Gisbourne via Napier


Now it was hit the road for Napier about 2 hour drive .Napier’s claim to fame was in 1931 it was shaken to the ground by an earthquake 7.9 on the Richter scale, much
of the town was destroyed. Napier found itself 40sq klms larger afterwards as the earthquake had lifted the seabed 2metres .That’s when Napier rose again like the phoenix and started rebuilding its Art Deco Architecture.
I arrived at about 13-30 to find all the people were dressed in 1930’s clothes (flapper dresses and bowers and chic hats men in boaters and white suits loads of vintage cars on display anyone who was anyone got out the very finest bone china and picnicked on the beach, the champagne would flow, veteran planes would be flying over and some aerobatics would be performed etc. Somewhat intrigued I asked what the significance of it all was. I was told that it was the 76th anniversary of the earthquake and this particular weekend was to celebrate the rebuilding of the Art deco town, .Saturday (that evening) would be a big party night with lots of activity and bands playing. The real celebration would be on Sunday as that was “The Great Gatsby Picnic”
That’s when everyone who was anyone got out the very finest bone china and picnicked on the beach the champagne would flow ,veteran planes would be flying over and some aerobatics would be performed everyone would have “A Jolly Good Day”.
Much as I wanted to stay timing was wrong “No Accommodation” so after 3hours left for Gisbourne another long haul as it was 3hours away .nothing of real note on route apart from seeing a wild turkey then a wild boar going crazy trying to find cover. Further along the most magnificent bird of prey, I believe it was the NZ falcon .it was a very big beastie after the many possums that die on the roads
Gisbourne, people go there for the surfing, one beach is known as the pipe some 5 klms long with good surf the real surfers had been there from 6-00am
The only other thing of note was the statue of the great man James Cook
Will move on tomorrow


Phileas

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Photos

Two flappers
These Ladies were the people I asked what it was all for and they kindly posed for the pic

This is a Captain Australian Navy
Hhe was the Australian Defence Attache to New Zealand in real Life

P2170678.JPG
just a few of the 125 cars on show

The Pipe
some of these surfers were there at
6-00am for the tide now 10-30am