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Red Rocks, Wellington

For the second part of our bus trip we were heading to Red Rocks on the South Coast if it was fine (or Te Papa if it wasn't). Amazingly, in the midst of the all the **** weather we have had recently, the weather seemed to behave itself 'sort of' so we could explore the coast!

First up we had a talk from a Forest and Bird Marine person who had come down on her Saturday to a place she is passionate about: a marine reserve was created just over a year ago on part of this coastline, and she explained how it had come about and the rationale for it.

This coastline is quite wild- Cook Strait has a confluence of various currents, and the wind is able to whip through the gap between North and South Islands.
As someone who grew up near the coast (Waitara) and who now lives 'inland' in New Zealand terms, I was glad to have the chance to be near the sea.
And even more so I revelled, as there was a chance to see the waves doing some wild things in the wind!
The bus driver told us we were lucky it was a northerly. We might have got windblasted at times as the afternoon moved on, but he said if it was southerly we would also have been drenched and cold!
I didn't walk as far as where the seals were reported to be: in the time we had I preferred just to make it to Red Rocks and then to spend some time watching the wild waves!

There was a Visitor's Centre where there were displays explaining various aspects of the reserve, including how the rocks in just a small section came to be red, when most of the surrounding rocks were grey sedimentary greywacke. It seems that in the midst of the sedimentary layers under the sea millions of years ago, there was an extrusion of volcanic basalt. So some of the rock ended up having iron included in it, and some of this has oxidised to red...
I asked this Brit tourist to pose, so you could see some of the red rocks are quite large. She offered to take my photo, but I am certain you would rather see her!!!
So that was my Saturday: thanks to Forest and Bird for all the organisation that made this trip possible. I found both places fascinating, and will make my way back to the Karori Wildlife Centre before long for sure!

Karori Wildlife Sanctuary- Zealandia

I had to set the alarm on Saturday morning earlier than usual..... had to be in town by 7.20am for the Forest and Bird bus trip down to Wellington. First off in the morning we were visiting the Karori Wildlife Centre, then it was going to be a walk to Red Rocks and maybe some seal viewing. For photo purposes I am breaking the day into two posts....

I first heard about the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary two years ago when I was studying a paper in NZ fauna. A "mainland island" has been created, with an extensive anti-predator fence, so that some species that have disappeared from this area might be able to live here again. It is a dream that has 500 years of restoration ahead.....
Here is the piece of the fence that you see as you enter the sanctuary. The fence disappears up a hill and you lose sight of it in the distance: this sanctuary really is quite vast.

There is a low level sealed track that has been made accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs. After you have walked a little way, you come to another area where they have fenced it off so they can keep weka out while they establish a population of tuatara and also lizards. Just past this fence I had a lovely conversation with Erin, who was working nearby. She told me two places where I might see tuatara if they had come out, but it seemed it was a bit windy for them today.
The sanctuary is also interesting for its historical role in Wellington. There was a display that recalled old goldmining efforts that I had been completely unaware of happening in Wellington. And you could walk along the dam.

A swing bridge linked to some other trails across the valley. This sanctuary has been conceived on a grand scale!

I didn't try to take many bird photos- time was a bit short for my experimental efforts- but I did take my dslr out for these shots. I know I missed the tip of the duck's beak, but I was excited to see how much feather detail I could capture.
And I will just leave you with this kaka perched on a feeding station....

The day after yesterday

What can you do but laugh really? We even rated a mention by Jim Hickey for our amount of rainfall. It rained steadily all night......

Finally......

finally.... a day for putting the deck chair out on the deck...... (but maybe not tomorrow)

A cycling expedition for KiwiNomad

We had a marvellous start to spring, but things have deteriorated: we have all been suffering 'cabin fever' with the rainfall, wind, cold, even sleet in the city.... Plus last week I was revising for my genetics exam. My body was screaming for exercise.
But today the sunshine finally reappeared, without the wind. I had planned to go to an aquaerobics class, but my bicycle started calling my name... I cycled off down Napier Rd where there was ample evidence of recent rainfall- and a 'river' where one doesn't usually run...
Today the 'windmills' were in plain view on the Tararuas. We have been acquiring more and more of these industrial monstrosities over recent years. And at present, Mighty River Power is arguing to put even more up, with many of its turbines planned to be in our Turitea Reserve where the local water supply is sourced. There is a David-Goliath battle on to try and stop these beasts. Enough is more than enough: our ridge lines have been defaced already.I turned off down Te Matai Rd, peaceful in the sunshine. But this is yet another area where environmental madness threatens. Some of the best remaining horticultural soil left near the city lies here, and there has been talk of taking land for a bridge here, as well as building houses. It floods here people, that's why it's so fertile...... let's leave it for the farmers to plough in the springtime, and put in the next lot of crops....

Finally, I headed off along the Bridle Track down by the river. I hadn't been here for ages, as last time I came I got a puncture! I was surprised to see how much fresh erosion there had been in some places. The little picnic table where I used to sit down for a break is now 'off-limits'.
It was about a 20km round trip, welcome exercise on a lovely sunny morning. But I have to confess that in the last few kilometres I could feel it in my muscles. There was a time this cycle ride would have been easy, but fitness now needs to be re-built!

A cycling expedition for Arohanui

Poor Arohanui has been stuck inside a lot lately: putting it politely, the weather has been c**p. But today TO decided the sun was shining, the wind wasn't blowing, work wasn't calling, and it was time to head out on a wee cycling expedition.
Arohanui thought TO was stopping to take way too many photos, but Arohanui still enjoyed a chance to play PN's Next Top Model by posing in this cabbage tree trunk down Te Matai Rd.
They eventually reached the Bridle Track. TO had forgotten to put in Arohanui's little raisin snack, but in the end it didn't matter. It turned out the ground around the picnic table had all been eroded away by the river.
So Arohanui contented herself with playtime on the bright orange fence, which was a bit like an adventure playground.
After a good 15km or so on the bike, it was time to indulge in a hot chocolate, and Arohanui came home via Muffin Break. In her opinion, this place makes the best hot chocolate, and has the most friendly cafe staff in the city!

Laughter on the Camino

Everyone who has walked the Camino will identify with this video: snoring in the dorms. But the nicest thing about this video is the way it shows how much laughter there is on the Camino. There must be something about the rhythm of all that walking that makes people laugh a lot!

a curious cat

Finally, my Massey essay was done and the sun was shining- so I went visiting a friends' farm with my new dslr in hand for a bit more practice. Their cat seemed rather curious about my endeavours.....

..... and kept appearing around different corners...... Did the cat know I was a novice? I have lost some of my initial trepidation about using the camera....but still have a lot to learn before I feel I am in control of the camera, rather than randomly receiving its automatic offerings!

If I was more diligent.....

If I was more diligent about gardening, the local birds would be missing an important food source. On a cold, miserable, Sunday morning, it is gratifying to know that a couple of finches can find some food on some tall, flowering, seeding weeds that any respectable gardener would long ago have dealt to!!!


I *should* be writing my Massey essay, but while procrastinating I noticed two finches out the window. I have only just begun experimenting with the dslr I bought recently, but this seemed like a good chance to try out the long zoom lens. By the time I got organised, only one finch was left on the plants. And that one finch didn't want to show a front view to the camera.

These shots are by no means perfect bird shots, but it was good to have my hands on a camera again where I could play with some depth of field, and focus on something at distance. And I think the finches enjoyed their meal!

Unseasonable Cold and a Reunion

Last Thursday here in Palmerston North was just Freeeezing. The temperature was low enough at 9am and just dropped from there. We seemed to spend a large part of the day hovering around 4C. Plus it rained and rained...... It didn't seem like much consolation to say "It must be snowing in the Ranges."(Actually, it felt about as cold as it was on the day I walked across the Aubrac Plateau in France which is at a much higher altitude.)
But come Friday morning there were these tempting glimpses of snow on the Tararuas....
It was well worth enduring the cold of Thursday to see these views on Friday morning.
Just as well the rain stopped, as I was due to drive north for the Sacred Heart reunion in New Plymouth, 125th Jubilee. (For my overseas readers, believe it or not, that is quite 'old' in New Zealand terms!!!)
And it was a great weekend. Lots of my former classmates were there, and the decibel rating was high throughout!!! We are already planning the next reunion...

Sunday morning wanderings

Sunday morning dawned fine and sunny, and Arohanui was about to discover that TO really did like walking: it wasn't all just a ploy to get out of gardening. TO had a wee backpack for Arohanui to ride in, though she had to share it with a few things like the water bottle and camera.

Arohanui found the expedition quite tiring, as she wasn't used to much walking, and her riding conditions were a little cramped. Fortunately the City Council provided this seat in a park that enabled a rest stop.
The park also had some bushes flowering all over with the joy of spring.

Eventually the endpoint of the expedition was reached, and a delivery was made into this mailbox. Then it was off home again.
But the morning's adventures were not over. Next was a cycle ride, for which Arohanui had to climb into a slightly bigger backpack, that she later had to share with a bike helmet. And the destination was the St James Gala. There TO met quite a few people she knew and she gasbagged the time away. Arohanui got a bit cross with this, as she really wanted to have a ride on the horse and buggy, but TO wouldn't leave her gossiping long enough to join the queue!!

Never mind, Arohanui thinks she quite likes the outdoor adventures she has had with TO, so is settling in quite happily to her new home!

Introducing Arohanui

Arohanui was created with love by one of the lovely ladies who keeps the stall for Arohanui Hospice outside Melody's supermarket. That's how Arohanui got her name. She is keeping this blog to let her siblings keep up with the adventures she has had since leaving home. This first photo shows her relaxing on the comfy sofa in her new abode.

Arohanui is more of a fan of the outdoors though. She has ventured outside to explore the garden, and has already discovered that her new owner is an absolutely hopeless gardener. This quite suits Arohanui though, as she loves finding all the invertebrates that can thrive in such a jungle.
All too soon Arohanui has to come inside. The Owner, henceforth and forever to be affectionately referred to as TO, seems intent on having a big sort out of old teaching resources. Supposedly TO is going to be ruthless and the recyling bin will be a major beneficiary, but time will tell. Arohanui is a little skeptical.

Footnote: Arohanui owes a huge debt to Gnomey, whose adventures have inspired this little blogging tale.

Glorious walking!

The forecast was promising, so I decided Saturday had to be the day I started out on some longish walks again. After the southerly a few days back, there was a dump of snow on parts of the Ruahines, and this meant a frost on the ground this morning. I passed this field early on, while I was still wearing my jacket, and in the shade you can still see the white of the frost. But behind it was the glorious promise of the sunshine!

I hadn't walked too long before I began stripping off. And it was soon a shorts and t-shirt walk. Yippeee! Even felt the need to apply sunblock and wear a sunhat. Blue skies. Wonderful.

Here's full sunshine on a shed that you walk past not long before you hit the high point on Green's Rd.....
...and here's the view from the high point, looking back down at the shed.

Spring was springing all over the place. I loved seeing all the new fronds on the tree ferns.

So that was today's adventure. I am feeling a bit stiff, so am quite glad I don't have to repeat the effort again tomorrow...!!!

Spring advances....

It seems such a short time since I posted the photo of the first magnolia of the spring on my tree. Now it is absolutely covered in blossom!

First Magnolia open...

One of my favourite moments each spring... when I notice the first magnolia flower open....

Daffodils opening....

Just a few days ago I posted a photo of the daffodil buds by my back door. Just five days later, the flowers have opened up. Spring is definitely in the air!

And just down the hill, suddenly a tree is covered in blossoms that looked very beautiful in the late afternoon sunlight.
It doesn't seem very long ago that I posted a photo of autumn leaves on this same tree...... and I checked and found it was only just over two months ago....

Playtime

Finally I decided I would splash out on a digital SLR. I had resisted largely because of the cost, and certainly when I walked the Camino, I wanted no more than the lightest possible camera.
But lately I have been missing some of the things I could do with an SLR. So I took the plunge.
Silly time to do it really- life is especially busy at present- but here are a few shots from 'play time' in the backyard!

Spring is in the Air...

Spring is in the air..... it isn't quite sure yet whether it really wants to be..... but there are little glimpses where it pokes its head out into the sunshine....

Divorce Entry Dance

If you have seen the Wedding Entrance Dance I hope you will also enjoy this spoof ;-)