Flying in the park

On Saturday afternoon I got into "my car" and was driven to a park that I’ve never been to before.

Meola Reef Reserve, in Auckland,  is part of a 10km (6 mile) lava flow that occurred many years ago. The lava flowed from the Three Kings volcano (about 8 km away) into the waters of the Waitemata Harbour (where it continues two-thirds of the way across the harbour to the land on the other side). Over time part of the lava flow has become a park, covered in grass and plants and has mangroves and other plants growing in the water around the reef.

When I saw the red part on the map above I learnt that there was a special area in this park especially for dogs. The plan was to walk to around the edge of the reef and end up in the red zone. I couldn’t wait. So I walked and walked.

At the far end of the park, I posed for a photo with the Auckland Harbour bridge behind me (if you click on this photo the bridge is to the right of my head). It is mid-winter here so to cope with the crisp conditions I wore my best fur coat! However it was only 12 degrees C so I was happy enough to be outside.

Finally I saw a dog - but it wasn't what I was expecting! He looked friendly enough, but didn't want to play.

He is a special rubbish bin for the waste that our humans collect from us.

Then we walked some more in the sunshine...

Don't these "Toi toi" plants look like my Golden Retriever tail?

Finally I found it - a big area with lots and lots of dogs! I could tell they wanted to meet me as lots of the dogs ran up to me to say hello.

The two other big dogs in this photo (with the things over their muzzles) are Maremma Sheepdogs.

There were all sorts of dogs, big dogs, small dogs, dogs with tails that pointed up (like mine) or tails that were level or pointed down.

They checked me out...

and I checked them out, and also got lots of pats from the other humans,

I even got to meet two other Golden Retrievers like this one named Honey. She was lovely.

There was so much space to run around, but the water was fenced off so I didn't get to go for a mid-winter swim.

However Mum said I was so happy meeting and greeting all the new dogs and people that I ran so fast with some of the dogs that it almost looked like I could fly!

So that was how I spent my Saturday afternoon. I hope you had a good weekend too.

Woofs,

Riley