Kawakawa Bay to Miranda Springs

The morning has started grey and damp but it is supposed to clear.
It stayed grey and damp but humid as I climbed out of Kawakawa Bay.  I saw a lay by and thought I would like a rest but someone had dumped their rubbish including fishheads and ashes down the bank and into the stream. More than once I would have to say. It looked like the tip face at the dump.
As I continued up there were Cockrell crowing a challenge to each other. One behind me and another ahead. It turned out to be 4 ahead. As I rounded a corner there was a lovely bench seat,a bar for the bike, with the cockerels on it, and a stone monument. When I got closer I saw that all had been defaced.  I have no idea what the monument was, the seat wax covered with hate slogans,and down the bank was another dump.

I cannot understand why people do this. 

Once over the hills it was flat all the way. We stopped at the Pink Shop in Kaiaua for a pie and coffee.  I stopped again at the bird sanctuary. And then it was Miranda Park.

All along the coast was evidence of the storm. There were many washouts and the rail trail was closed. It was probably faster on the road anyway. 

The day has cleared and is hot and sunny. The fennel along the roadside has a glorious smell in the heat.