Downtown Springtime

I had a short walk downtown today, and spring was in the air. 

 Spring blossoms in Coleman Mall

 Bikes and a planter box on the Square near the Library

 that lovely light green you see only as spring begins

 a few addditional street signs for the Rugby World Cup

And three extra flags on the top of Square Edge- for Argentina, Romania and Georgia,

who will all play here during the Rugby World Cup

Arrival in Akaroa

Given the weather I had encountered on the Summit Road, I wasn't expecting to have pleasant conditions for walking when I arrived in Akaroa. But the weather can change quickly on Banks Peninsula. I arrived at the camping ground- so crowded and regimented after the more relaxed camping ground at Okains Bay!- and found that by the time I had set up my tent, the temperature had definitely warmed up. So I headed steeply downhill via the local walkway into the township, (knowing I was going to have to climb all the way back up later...)

I had visited Akaroa once quite a few years before, and remember being enchanted by its village atmosphere, and by finding little surprises from the days of the early French settlers all over the place. But this time I was struck more by the brash tourist nature of the place, and didn't fall in love immediately. (Perhaps last time my first walk was in the quiet of the morning, a better time to quietly appreciate such things.) However, I soon began finding some 'treasures'. There was this old house with some quirky 'sculptures' on the side.
 

And the Catholic Church, much of it dating back to 1865- very old by New Zealand standards!- was a very peaceful, prayerful oasis of cool and quiet.

I did enjoy seeing the wide range of signs with French names on them all over Akaroa, but this large modern sign outside the petrol station was arguably the most impressive one of all.

There were still many houses that clearly dated back to colonial times.

I was feeling very hot and hungry after a few hours of wandering around the township, but couldn't quite bring myself to eat in a trendy tourist eatery. I was pleased then to find that the 'local' hotel had a family bar and restaurant area, and I had a long cool drink with lots of ice, then ate an excellent meal there.  

 

And finally, replete after that meal, I had to climb slowly back up the hill to the camping ground- noticing the bland, modern 'gendarmerie' building as I passed. 

Off to Okains Bay

I joined my friends in Christchurch for a couple of days, and saw signs of earthquake damage at their home, largely due to soil liquefaction. Here is my wee doll Arohanui checking out their garage which has to be demolished and replaced.

Soon it was time to be off to Banks Peninsula for camping at Okains Bay. 

It took no time at all to sink into that relaxing feeling.... These next three photos from the sunset that evening.

 

These two oystercatchers are part of a group  of three I saw often along the beach. I think that one is a juvenile. Certainly, one of these three was very belligerent, perhaps protecting the young one. I am much further away than you might think, as this camera has an excellent zoom, but I was dive-bombed several times on various occasions, and saw the same happen to others who inadvertently strayed too close!

It was a peaceful time of evening to take out a flounder net, but I think their efforts only scored them crabs this time....

From Porangahau to Herbertville

Next on the agenda was the journey from Porangahau to Herbertville. Navigating the rural roads was easy: I am now getting some use out of the GPS I bought for that trip to Hamilton I never made because of my broken arm in July.

Route 52 would seem to be an appealing route to take if you are a tourist- off the beaten track and away from busier roads, it lets you explore some more rural gems. It is still pretty 'laid back' but there are some signs that tourists are being catered for. I remember taking a 'tiki tour' many years back- quite a 'random' one without any real plan, and quite by chance I passed the place with the 'longest name'. I remember a basic yellow AA signpost that would have been easily missed. Now there is a much more obvious one!

Not much further along the road, I stopped to look at some cabbage trees - Cordyline australis- which were quite prolific in this area. And then these horses appeared and paid me some attention- not quite so easily able to ignore passing humans as their cousins in paddocks closer to cities can.

Here are a few more of the cabbage trees. The hills here look quite gentle and rolling: don't be fooled! This is prime 'earthquake' area, with the ground being regularly scrunched up as the Pacific and Australian plates do their 'meeting' nearby. Here are some recent ones reported in Geonet. And in 1990 there was a 6.2 quake centred near here that was one of the worst I have felt, strong enough even in Palmerston North to make holding onto the doorframe difficult as the floor bucked beneath me.

One final photo: I am a great fan of taking photos of some of the old rural buildings that you pass.

Pongaroa

By now, I had seen a lot on my tiki tour- but it was still quite a journey from the coast at Herbertville, back to Pahiatua through Pongaroa, then across the Pahiatua Track back to Palmerston North.

I was to see a lot of evidence of land slips in the next section of the drive, some of it from recent heavy rainfall, and some of it 'chronic'. There are unfortunately too many parts of New Zealand where the hills should never have been cleared of forest. I was glad to see some of the hills on the Pongaroa-Pahiatua Road seem to be being allowed to revert through scrubland back to forest.

 Near Waione I saw these 'rural' football posts. Who knows how many former All Blacks have been reared on such posts.

And in Pongaroa there was recognition of a 'local', Maurice Wilkins, who became a world renowned scientist and Nobel Prize Winner. (Interestingly, Sir Ernest Rutherford also hailed from a small rural New Zealand town.)

Pongaroa has obviously seen 'busier' times, and there were quite a few 'historic' buildings still there.

And here is the signpost in Pongaroa that points the way home....

Sunshine on his sign...

I'd vote for this man if I could. He must be glad to finally get a sunny, calm day to show off his election sign...... Chris Teo-Sherrell .....

PS Did you notice the driver eating a banana at the wheel?

Summer- close to home

I have been enjoying reading some excellent winter posts from some of my northern hemisphere blogging buddies lately. Maalie writes of a walk near his home in Cumbria just after Christmas, and also about a bird survey he is involved in that requires excursions into the great cold outdoors. My Camino blogging friend, Johnnie Walker, has just posted about his winter adventures crossing O'Cebreiro to reach Galicia. Rebekah had some wonderful photos of snow on the Meseta near Moratinos, quickly followed by the nightmare of frozen water pipes!

But though I like reading about these adventures, I am quite glad to be pottering around in our summer temperatures. Summer was slow in coming this year, and it remains somewhat 'iffy' at best, but finally I can go out walking in shorts at least sometimes!

My holiday this year is mainly 'close to home' but there are actually plenty of simple, cheap things to do and enjoy locally, especially when you like walking and taking photos...

Today I drove to Bledisloe Park near Massey, and took the walk up to Old West Rd and return. The path starts off quite flat beside Massey grounds, and there are several wee bridges to cross. With the dappled sunlight, I sink into a 'relaxed' frame of mind as soon as I see them...After a stretch of legs on the flat, you next find there is a bit of climbing to do, but very soon you emerge to views of university buildings, and Manawatu countryside.

There were even some crops to view, and I felt like I was taking similar photos to those I took in the south-west of France on the Chemin in 2008. In fact, people quite often ask why I don't do a similar walk here at home, and the answer basically is that I would love to- but the infrastructure of well-spaced, cheap places to stay and eat isn't here. In France I only needed to carry a minimal smallish pack... Plus, there were always enough others walking for me to feel perfectly safe as a solo walker...
There were some well-spaced picnic tables along the walking route today. I should have brought Arohanui along- she would have loved a picnic.... ah wellll...... next time!

There were great views over to the Tararua Ranges.
One thing I did in France was take photos of 'interesting signs', and I guess they were all the more interesting to me as French was a foreign language. But really, these signs are quite interesting in their own right- they tell quite a 'Manawatu' story.
There are supposed to be more winds and rain arriving.... the clouds over the ranges do look as if there might be a change coming.... but I hope it won't be too long before (Arohanui and) I bring you the next 'close-to-home- holiday adventure!