Kiwi Nomad's Wanderings

Along Green's Rd

2012-02-09T17:26:00.002+13:00

Last night I read an account written by someone who has walked the route I am planning to walk in a few months- and it scared me somewhat! I knew that the Cluny route was going to be very hilly- but I didn't really think too hard about the long distances that might be needed if the limited accommodation is booked out... So, I decided that my 'training' so far has been a bit like 'playtime' compared to what is to come, and today had to be another 'hill' day. And finally, we had a 'proper' summer's day for it. I parked my car at the end of the sealed section of Turitea Rd, so I could walk up the metalled road and through the walking/biking section onto Green's Rd- then return.

There were lots of wildflowers along the way.

And it also seemed to be a busy time for 'nests' for various insects or spiders.

The sunshine was pouring down as I reached one high point, ready to walk downhill then up the other side again. You can't see them here, but a group of soldiers were training for what looked like mine-sweeping operations. One of them offered me some water if I needed it: my face probably looked quite red and sweaty when I passed them, but I had a bottle of drink ready for when I reached the high point of the walk at the top of the very next hill.

As I sat down at the high point for a drink and some fruit, I noticed a power pole, that seemed to provide a good contrast with yesterday's small pylon...

There were quite a few native tree ferns alongside the road in various places.

And to finish- a bee on a thistle...

Man-made walking sights

2012-02-08T13:08:00.000+13:00

Today I headed out on the Turitea Walkway again- this time 'backwards' from the Old West Rd carpark, then uphill through the Massey campus back to my car. On the way I took a few photos of things that were 'man-made'...

This decaying old fence-post always seems to catch my eye.

I realised that I seldom see the 'beauty' in power pylons- but with sunshine and blue skies behind it, this small pylon also caught my eye today.

I always enjoy noticing how shadows fall, and how they change through the day. I loved the way the shadow from these fence posts enlivened the path this morning!

Then there was this woman-made shadow as I crossed one of the pedestrian bridges over the Turitea Stream. It reminded me of some of the obligatory 'shadow photos' I took on the Camino in 2008!

It's very pleasant walking up through the Massey campus. You can make a toilet stop or sit or have a snack-break on a seat. There are not many students back for the year yet so it is almost too peaceful on the concourse.

There are lots of buildings to walk past of course, some a bit ugly. But even this ugly one surprised me with the wonderful reflection in its windows!

reflection

2012-02-03T12:30:00.002+13:00

I always like noticing 'reflections' when I am out walking. Saw these reflected fence-posts alongside one of the city walkways near Palmy today.

Manawatu Gorge

2012-02-01T18:13:00.000+13:00

Now that I am 'seriously' into the countdown, I expect to walk the Manawatu Gorge track at least once a week until 'departure'. It's the 'best' (ie steepest, hilliest, longest) track near to home. By NZ track standards it's actually not all that steep, and the track has been graveled so it's easier walking, but it was perfect training for the kind of hills/tracks I walked on last time in France.

When I walked the Camino I used to carry little pieces of paper in my shorts pocket, with quotes on, that I'd read and think about during the day. Today I took a couple of short quotes. and one was: "We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand, and melting like a snowflake." ~Sir Francis Bacon. So I was pretty 'switched on' to noticing little things around me, and enjoying them, being aware of their passing beauty. There were raindrops on leaves, fungi of various kinds, sunlight on ferns...

Then when I reached my 'endpoint' for the day at the "Windy Point" lookout, it was the big view that took my breath away. At this point you can look back along the Gorge, or look over to Woodville and the landscape beyond. Today the weather was in the process of 'changing', with real drama in the clouds above.

I retraced my steps back to the newish lookout over the wind turbines, and had lunch at the picnic table. The turbines were really humming in the wind. The 'front' was really obvious, stacked up from the eastern side, with little clouds lower down scudding over from the west.

Not so many people have been on the track since the Gorge road has been closed- and there's a patch where ongaonga (native stinging nettle) is growing well. It is every bit as vicious as it looks, but fortunately I never banged into it today!

I was a bit surprised to see this bridge. Maybe I have daydreamed my way across it before- but I couldn't find an old track- so perhaps it just looked different with new planks on it...

Some of the little fungi were quite well 'camouflaged'.

One really nice surprise today was to see these nikau palms flowering. There's quite a big patch of nikau, but I've seldom seen them flowering. I know they are doing quite a bit of 'pest control' on the track, so maybe these flowers are a sign that possum numbers are being reduced.

Ten Week Countdown

2012-01-30T17:02:00.003+13:00

Today most people I know are back into the teaching year -whether for a Teacher Only Day or the New Class- while I still have lots of time to 'please myself'. Regardless, the start of the school year has really galvanised my thinking, as it makes my departure date very concrete! It's just over 10 weeks before I leave for Paris and my walk from Cluny, and the school term of 10 weeks seems to provide the perfect 'number' for a countdown.

I've already walked many of the nearby hills, so I keep trying to find ways to put variety into my training. Today I decided I'd walk the Turitea Walkway uphill from Massey, but as a variant I would start near the bridge and cross the river first. Then, instead of my usual combo of city walkways from Old West Rd, I decided I'd turn right along the road until I reached the Massey entrance, and come back downhill that way.

There was a spot of 'variety' right where I parked my car, as work is being done on the stopbanks near the bridge.

I love the flat beginning of the track on the edge of the Massey campus, as there are bridges that cross the Turitea Stream several times. Today with the sunshine, there were some lovely reflections on the water.

Once I was out onto the more rural part of the track, I passed some of these berries. They looked quite yummy, but I had no idea what they might be, and whether or not they might be poisonous- so I had to leave them alone. They were another reminder that the season is progressing, even though we are all moaning about the mostly lousy summer so far.

When I reached Old West Rd, I had my last view of the stream as it passed under the bridge, before I headed up the road for my return journey via the Massey campus.

It was quite warm by then, so I was glad to find some sheltered seating under trees near the Massey library, and gulped down plenty of my water. It was an easy descent, and return to my car. Week 10, Walk 1, done.

unexpected error

2012-01-29T15:52:00.001+13:00

There's a lot of cabling being done underground in my neighbourhood at present- for broadband I think- so there are lots of 'barriers'. On one of them my 'teacher nose' couldn't help but spy this spelling error. I wonder if it was sold for a cheaper price? And how many faulty ones were produced from the mould before someone realised? Is it only teachers who can't help noticing things like this? Have I been teaching too long?

These feet are made for walking...

2012-01-26T20:07:00.001+13:00

Having a rest after some 7-8km of walking this morning, before the climb up the metalled part of Turitea Rd and onto Green's Rd. Another place where these feet went a-walking. Good hill climbing and descending practice!

And a second shot of the same feet, once I had reached the top end of this climb.

It's a variation on an earlier theme....

I think it's time I added a 'feet' label... I know it's all a bit self-centred- but I like the slight quirkiness of it all :-)

Meandering in the Esplanade

2012-01-23T14:28:00.002+13:00

It's a public holiday in the old Wellington provincial area here today- and though I usually think it's a crazy time for such a 'day off' when school holidays are still 'on', it was great to wake up to sunshine, after a weekend of grey skies and rain.

I decided that a relaxed wander in the Esplanade was what the morning called for, and it's a place that always has new pockets of beauty to catch your eye. I first walked next to the bush along the river track, and this was the first piece of the flower gardens I came to, with the hydrangeas in dappled light under trees.

The gardeners at the Esplanade have every right to be proud of what they do: this is just one of the beautiful colourful gardens dotted around. It was great to see some many people wandering through as families, looking relaxed.

There are a few 'crinkum crankum' trees in the Esplanade, and the branches on this one were reflecting the sunlight in an eye-catching kind of way.

First time for ages, I also took a wander in the rose gardens, and there were lots of 'raindrops on roses' left over from last night- seemed to suit the 'favourite things' kind of morning.

I can never get quite enough of raindrops on roses....

...but they weren't restricted to just the roses....

In summertime they have many varieties of dahlia in the Esplanade, coming in all sorts of colours and shapes. The monarch butterflies seem to especially like the orangey-red ones, but I like all of them...

I finished my walk back along part of the river path... passing many others out walking and relaxing.

Pork Chop Hill and Esplanade

2012-01-17T12:00:00.000+13:00

Mostly these days when I head out walking, I am aiming for some up-and-down hills that will get my heart pumping, and mostly it seems like I am not getting much fitter yet, despite all the effort. Today I had a more leisurely walk planned, though it still had one 'big' hill in it, 'Pork Chop Hill'- or Anzac Park. (I had checked this out by car before Christmas, when the police dog handlers were up there putting their dogs through their paces.) Yeehah, I was pretty pleased to find that this morning's climb up here was 'easy'!

This is a view over to Wharite from the top of Pork Chop Hill. The cloud coming down from the east reminded me of cloud you could see in the valleys below as I descended O'Cebreiro in Galicia- happy memories.

When I realised the walk and climb was just 'short and sweet', I decided I may as well make the rest of the morning's walk a 'dawdling' one, and so took out the camera. Fennel was flowering all down near the river, so I took (quite a few) shots of it- such a dramatic looking plant that reminds me somehow of all the wild places from my childhood.

An old man passed by on the track and was surprised to see me taking photos of what he said was 'only a weed'...

Maybe so, but it does have a beautiful flower...

When I crossed back over the river, I took a short walk in the Esplanade. I had to check out if there were still monarch butterflies near the dahlia patch.

And there were- but last year they seemed to be more numerous.

It was a very relaxing morning. I drove home via the Lagoon and fed the ducks- and now it is time to have a shower before heading out to see a friend and her two young children... Holidays- ahhhhh- gotta love them!

Upper Kahuterawa Rd

2012-01-10T12:36:00.000+13:00

Yesterday I walked 4km- 8km return- up the lower end of Kahuterawa Rd as far as Green's Rd. Today I walked the next 6km- 12km return- from Green's Rd up to the bridge over the Kahuterawa River, where the Sledge Track starts. As soon as I parked the car at Green's Rd, I was immersed in a beautiful morning. A tui was eating from flax flowers right nearby, and I hadn't walked far before I saw a hawk flying up in the sky.

Yesterday's route had more hills in it, so in a sense was more use for 'training'- but the upper part of the road feels so much more wild and remote, and mostly follows the river quite closely. You get to listen to the sound of the river over rocks below as you walk by on the road above- very peaceful.

This is a view of the river from the bridge at the top of the road, where the Sledge Track and Back Track both begin.

About 2km from Green's Rd is a riverside park, with a few facilities for a bbq etc, and I sat there for some morning tea on my way back down the road. Very peaceful place to sit, just listening to the sound of the river as it flows by. It strikes me I could make a series of photos of my shoes/feet at resting places. (Here is a similar shot from a month ago!) Ok, you can comment- not everyone is as interested in my feet as I am!

Chemin Prep

2012-01-09T12:12:00.001+13:00

No excuses anymore- in three months time I will be packing for my flights to Paris- ready for walking the Chemin from Cluny... Yesterday morning was very wet and the evening brought what seemed like gale-force winds. But today dawned fine and sunny, so I walked up one of my favourite routes, Kahuterawa Rd. I always love seeing this line of letterboxes, but they are often in more shade than this as I walk past: today there was this lovely dappled sunlight on them. On the way up they are a sign that I am reaching the 3km mark, and if I've walked a long way, on the way down they say that it's 'not far to go now'.

Today I walked up as far as Green's Rd -just over 4km in an uphill direction. I sat down and rested at the top, and a couple of swallows flitted down onto the road nearby. They made a couple of attempts to pick up a strand of dried grass lying on the road- then finally one grabbed it, and they took off together, presumably to their nest. We mostly take our homes for granted, but each strand on their nest must be hard won.

Akitio Beach Road Trip

2012-01-03T20:50:00.001+13:00

Today I decided to take a little 'road trip' over to Akitio beach on the east coast. Though I've explored some of the other beaches and settlements in this area- eg Porangahau, Herbertville, Pongaroa- I have never before made it down to Akitio.

I fell in love with Akitio Beach as soon as I arrived there. The pohutukawa were in the early stages of flowering right on the beach front- the flowers seem late this year after a grey November. I don't think anything shouts out 'summer' quite so loudly as pohutukawa by the sea.

It was a lovely beach to visit, with a peaceful, relaxed 'feel' to the settlement, and I must go back there sometime soon with my tent and stay a night. It is quite 'far away', and you have to travel on narrow, windy, hilly roads to get there, so even though it is peak holiday season, it wasn't too busy. There were quite a few people fishing, and boats were being taken in and out of the surf by tractors, (including some very ancient ones.) As I walked along the beach, I kept meeting friendly, relaxed people, keen for a chat. All very pleasant and low key.

The whole journey there and back was through a part of rural New Zealand we tend to call the 'heartland', and several times I met up with a 'traffic jam' along the road. It seems that this is a busy time of year for sheep farmers, getting their sheep into the shed for shearing etc.

I came home via the rural town of Eketahuna- and this lovingly knitted nativity scene was in the information centre.

And outside the information centre, was quite the largest Kiwi I have ever seen. Remarkable!

Merging blogs...

2012-01-02T12:46:00.001+13:00

Apologies to anybody who has been flooded with posts in their reader today.... I have just merged posts from my 365 photo blog for 2011 - where I took a photo a day- into my Kiwi Nomad blog. So the overload is just a 'oncer'. (It could have been worse- I did delete some posts before the merge!!!)
Happy New Year!!
It's interesting. When I got back from the Camino in 2008, I had a big clean-out/ down-size of 'stuff'. I feel an urge to do the same this time, before I even leave the country....

365: looking ahead to 2012

2011-12-31T12:22:00.000+13:00

Well, I had hoped to end the year and this 365 blog with a beautiful sunny landscape- but rain seems to be our lot today, so you are getting an indoor shot to finish. But though you may not be looking at a sunny landscape, this is a 'looking forward' shot to the Chemins I plan to walk in France in 2012. Eventually, on the Festina Lente blog that I will compile, mainly after I get home again, you will see some of the sunny and not-so-sunny landscapes that I walk through. (And if it seems too long to wait for the blog from the new Chemins, here is the retrospective blog about my first Chemin/Camino in 2008.)

Last night I had two friends staying the night, who plan to walk the Camino Frances in a few months time, so we were comparing equipment for 'packing'. New adventures call us into 2012...

Well, it's been a great adventure, but this blog is now 'ended'. I will leave it here -as is where is- for another month or so, then will merge it with my 'occasional' Kiwinomad blog. See you over there sometime perhaps. One blog may have ended, but it seems I am an inveterate blogger, in one place or another, and you won't get rid of me just because 365/365 has arrived!

364: on holiday

2011-12-30T14:26:00.000+13:00

The year is nearly at an end, and I am very much in holiday mode at present- as are my little toys- resting at home after a busy time in the reading corner at school, at the beck and call of five year olds. They all look very relaxed too, so life is at it should be just prior to New Year...

363: Esplanade

2011-12-29T13:06:00.000+13:00

Only three days to go now to show you photos in my 365- and this might be the last outdoor photo, as rain is forecast to end the year. The blue skies of previous days have already been replaced by grey cloud cover, though it is still warm enough at 24C. This photo was taken at the Esplanade, with bright summer annuals in the foreground, and the avenue of phoenix palms behind. It's a great place to relax and enjoy a short walk anytime of the year, as there are always different things in bloom.

362: homegrown salad

2011-12-28T22:20:00.000+13:00

I have a friend who is not only a superb cook, she is also a wonderful gardener. Most of the veges in this salad have come from her own garden. Fresh and delicious!

361: wind turbines

2011-12-27T15:37:00.000+13:00

Whenever I do the Manawatu Gorge walk, I always feel like I am walking in forest that is quite wide, and I feel a long way away from the everyday world. But such is not quite the case. There's an extra lookout since I was last at the Woodville end of the Manawatu Gorge walk- that gives you a view over these wind turbines. And there is a very short walk off the track to reach the viewpoint. Things are not always what they seem!

360: swimming time!

2011-12-26T13:18:00.000+13:00

Another lovely summer's day. I've already been to the Lido for some lane swimming. Now my togs are drying off outside in the sunshine, and maybe there will be another swim later...

Out and About

2011-12-26T09:32:00.002+13:00

In just over three months time I am heading off to France for some more walking, some of which will be quite 'hilly', so I have been 'out and about' walking, trying to get fitter. Here are just a few views from along some of the ways I have walked...

This old fencepost on the Turitea Walkway sits amidst some of the lush grass growth

we have had after the rains we had in November.

On Himatangi Beach I saw many lined up along the short stretch of river,

hoping to catch a few whitebait.

Climbing up Turitea-Green's Rd gives me lots of up-and-down hills practice.

Signs of summer- there were lots of spider nests on the long grass.

Blechnum capense was the name I learned back in high school for this fern

whose orange-edged fronds I love. It has a new botanical name now, but I can never remember it!

From a high point on Green's Rd, I can see where I am about to descend down the road-

only to climb up again just around the next bend. Truly, good practice for the Cluny route!

This is the highest point along Green's Rd before I descend again to Kahuterawa Rd.

The sign is showing that this is part of the Te Araroa Walkway down the length of New Zealand.

Back down on Kahuterawa Rd, a sign that summer is advancing:
the hay has been cut and baled from this paddock.

Finally I got back onto the Gorge Walkway, which gives me more practice up hills and down...

The Gorge road is closed at present by this huge, unstable slip, which is taking months to clear.
But you can still walk the walking track- it's just not quite so easy to leave a car at each end
if a group want to walk the whole track in one direction.

Te Mata Peak

2011-12-26T08:27:00.001+13:00

Yesterday I was up in Havelock North for Christmas, and took the opportunity to drive up Te Mata Peak. It was quite a revelation: I had no idea what wonderful views awaited me- a 360 degree wonderland.

In the distance here, if you look carefully amongst the clouds, Mt Ruapehu is poking through, with a bit of snow still on the top.

I loved the view over these cliffs, with the ribbon of the river below, and the blue, blue sea beyond.

These cattle around the waterholes just looked like tiny ants below...

Another view showing some of the coastline north towards Mahia.

It was mainly overseas tourists getting a quick view yesterday. (I overheard some of them talking about whether something might be 'open later'- oops, did nobody warn them about Christmas Day...)

Some more tourists posing with a hill view behind.

I really did love the view of the river below, with the ocean beyond.

And a 360 view from the top...

359: Summer Christmas

2011-12-25T21:16:00.000+13:00

For all my northern hemisphere friends, here is a little taste of a summertime Christmas :-)

358: Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T15:58:00.000+13:00

Waiting for the arrival of the Christ Child at Midnight Mass

St Pat's, Palmerston North

357: Gorge Walk

2011-12-23T16:51:00.000+13:00

It's definitely time to ramp up the amount of 'training' I am doing for the Chemin that I will start in April. And the Manawatu Gorge is a great place to do it, with lots of hill climbing and a few steep descents... This photo is the view over to Ashhurst from the Te Apiti viewpoint.

I have more Gorge photos I should make a Nomad post with- but in case it isn't 'soonish', here is a second photo, of a tree fern.

I always think the fronds look glorious against a blue sky.

356: Santa & Rudolph

2011-12-22T13:02:00.000+13:00

While out driving in rural Manawatu this morning I spied Santa out gallivanting with Rudolph. I suppose they were checking out which houses had chimneys or not, ready for the Great Delivery in a couple of nights time.

355: blackberry beginnings

2011-12-21T09:50:00.000+13:00

Out clearing the jungle that is my 'back garden' this morning, I came across these blackberries- with their promise of treats to come in the late summer/ autumn. I cleared away the convolulus that was climbing all over it- and hopefully there will be a feast for the picking in March...

354: Joseph St Kitchen

2011-12-20T13:01:00.000+13:00

I had another trip to the dump this morning with some more green waste... and stopped off on my way home for a hot chocolate at Mike's Joseph St Kitchen. Oh, and an afghan too :-)

353: Mt Cleese & Anzac Park

2011-12-19T12:48:00.000+13:00

You don't always get what I 'plan' on this #365 jaunt. I was heading to the dump to take some green waste- don't panic- it gets turned into compost. It wasn't supposed to be my 'photo opportunity', but then I was reminded of the Mt Cleese sign, which has quite a story attached to it.

Actually, you do get quite a good view back down the river from this 'mountain' as well...

Next I planned to drive up the hill to Anzac Park, to check out exactly how hilly and strenuous the track looked from a walker's point of view. (Quite steep was my verdict.) And you were going to get a landscape view here on #365 from the viewpoint over the city. But there was some unforeseen action up there: several policeman were using the spot to train their dogs. So of course, you have to get a couple of pics of that instead!

The dog's aim was clearly to 'disrobe' his assailant's arm of the protective sleeve- and he did that with gusto, quite successfully.

352: sheep resting

2011-12-18T13:24:00.000+13:00

Holidays have arrived and I am glad to 'officially' start my training regime for Cluny next April. While I was sweating up and down a few hills, it was nice to see these sheep still had time to relax and be peaceful under this tree.

350: Holiday Flowers

2011-12-17T09:40:00.000+13:00

Yesterday was the last day of the school year and I am now on holiday! This beautiful bunch of carnations was given to me.

349: tui on flax

2011-12-16T17:25:00.000+13:00

It is that happy time of year again, when I can watch the tui feeding on flax in my back garden. I am giving you three photos: none of them is a perfect shot, but the different angles show you more about the bird, in this case a juvenile.

346: weeds & seeds

2011-12-12T18:23:00.000+13:00

Gardening is not my forte..... weeds have become seeds to become weeds..... I will be busy in the garden these hols, but it's too little too late...

345: roadside rest

2011-12-11T15:33:00.000+13:00

In just four months time I will be starting some long walks in France, so the summer needs to be full of walks to improve my fitness. Today I took one of my 'circuits' around some quiet country roads. I started earlyish, just after 7am, and after three and a half hours, I decided it was time to stop for a morning tea break. And ahhhh how I love taking my shoes off!

344: Pipe bands

2011-12-10T13:47:00.000+13:00

Each year in December there is a Pipe Band contest in the Square. I always like wandering through when it's on, and listening to all the goings-on. This is a local group of mainly young ones, getting ready for their performance.

And just because I am getting to the end of Project365- a bonus shot- this time of an older band preparing their way...

342: peace in the courtyard

2011-12-08T18:05:00.000+13:00

At the end of the school day, when the sun is shining, the courtyard outside some of our classrooms is a lovely peaceful spot to walk through...

340: Art Expo

2011-12-06T18:18:00.000+13:00

There's a wonderful event at school this week: the Art Expo. All our parents, grandparents, locals and anyone at all who is interested can come along to see it in the Hall. Floor to ceiling art. Magnificent. Here's a peak at our little New Entrant corner.

338: two bikes

2011-12-04T14:57:00.000+13:00

two bikes at the supermarket

337: Christmas in the Square

2011-12-03T12:54:00.000+13:00

It's Christmas in the Square here in Palmy today. The Red Cross Fair was on this morning, and later on will be the Santa Parade and Carols. Then they will light up the tree for the season.

335: Night time in the Square

2011-12-01T22:02:00.000+13:00

This is now the last month of my 365 project, so a 'reflection' seems appropriate. On my way home this evening, I saw these reflections in one side of the 'butterfly' lakes in the Square.

And in case anyone is wondering, December 31st will indeed bring the end of this blog. Next year I will be walking in France, probably without too much e-mail access. But there will be a different blog for recounting it all...

332: for paper chains

2011-11-28T16:58:00.000+13:00

Even when you have been teaching as long as I have, you still get ideas from all over the place. Another teacher's four year old daughter at day care brought home a poem with 25 paper chains attached, made out of Christmas gift wrap paper, to count down the December days until Christmas. Soooo, today we have been learning all kinds of things about 25, to help us count the 25 paper chains we will make tomorrow. And here is the Christmas gift wrap paper we will make them with...

331: Himatangi Beach

2011-11-27T13:35:00.000+13:00

This was the first really fine day we have had for ages and the beach was calling. The tide was really high, and I ended up with really wet trousers, but the water was surprisingly warm. Loved the walk. And it was especially good to have a day that provided an inkling that summer might truly be just around the corner- because most of November the weather has not been so good...

330: peaceful spot

2011-11-26T11:31:00.000+13:00

A peaceful spot beside the stream, along the Turitea Walkway.

I'd been walking just over two hours before I arrived here, and this was a great spot to have a drink of water and an orange, before climbing back up the hill to where my car was parked.

329: celebration

2011-11-25T20:32:00.000+13:00

There was a celebration this evening- for some young teachers and some retiring teachers.

328: river high

2011-11-24T18:14:00.000+13:00

The rain stopped and the sunshine finally returned this afternoon- but the river is running fast and high...
and hrmmmmphhh the forecast is for gale force winds tomorrow.

327: here comes the rain again...

2011-11-23T18:03:00.000+13:00

Here comes the rain again..... November has been like that. Sigh. At least the wind doesn't seem to be quite as strong as it was a few days ago -not yet anyhow...

326: another spiderweb

2011-11-22T17:29:00.000+13:00

I used to think that I could only capture a photo of a spiderweb on a wet day when it was outlined with raindrops. But I have discovered recently that late in the day, when the sun's angle is low, spiderwebs hidden amongst the leaves of trees or shrubs might reflect back some of the sunlight that is falling on them...

325: garden ornament

2011-11-21T18:15:00.000+13:00

reflection in a garden ornament

324: another grey day

2011-11-20T11:32:00.000+13:00

It was yet another grey day in Palmy- quite the greyest November I can remember- and also often quite wet. But hey, everything is lush, as you can see, and I still had a wonderful three hour walk on the walkways on the edge of town...

323: something's coming...

2011-11-19T14:24:00.000+13:00

I wandered downtown for a walk at lunchtime today, and saw the local MP, Iain Lees-Galloway, electioneering in the Square. Not long to go now. This time next Saturday I will probably already have voted...

322: flax breakdown

2011-11-18T17:28:00.000+13:00

section of one of the older leaves on the large flax bush in my backyard, breaking down

321: comfortable possie

2011-11-17T18:33:00.000+13:00

I don't have a cat, so the neighbourhood cats make themselves at home in my backyard. They have even reached some kind of 'agreement' amongst themselves so that they can share it most of the time. They have an unerring sense of the most 'comfortable' place to be. Today there is a strong wind and the deck is not immune to it, so this cat has found itself a cosy place near trees that is completely sheltered. And he dozes on, cosy in his own ball of fluff...

320: washing line

2011-11-16T16:55:00.000+13:00

This morning the rain was absolutely hosing down. This afternoon I arrived home to see a pond of water in the backyard, and the clothesline was reflected in it...

319: busy bumblebees

2011-11-15T17:00:00.000+13:00

The bumblebees are all busy at present on this flowering bush in the garden.

317: more baby coots

2011-11-13T15:07:00.000+13:00

Down at the Lagoon today I saw more baby coots. This is a newer group, hatched not so long ago. The ones I have seen previously have grown bigger, and have now lost most of the yellow and red colouring on their heads.

Ups and Downs

2011-11-12T16:14:00.001+13:00

This time in five months, I am going to be in Singapore for a day, en route to Paris, before I head on to Cluny, where I will begin walking. Five months has a definite kind of 'urgent' ring about it, in terms of 'It is well past time to get fitter and I will be walking tomorrow rain or shine!' Thank goodness it was drizzling, rather than all out raining when I woke this morning...

I've been reliably informed- by someone who has already walked the routes, that the route from Cluny to Le Puy is much hillier than what I encountered further south from Le Puy to Santiago last time. So, hills it is. I live in a city that is very flat, on a flood plain- but a major fault line lies not far to the east, so there are hills and ranges right on the eastern edge of the city. And there are walkways straddling a major hill near the university, and it is there that I intend to do a lot of uphill and downhill walking in the coming months.

This morning I parked on a side road from where I could join the Turitea Walkway halfway along. The first bit of the track climbs through some lovely bush.

Before very long the track emerges out onto farmland, where the view today was of a drizzly haze over the hills. I am sure the Irish must have a word for this gentle, barely-there kind of rain.

The sun wasn't out, but even on a dull day you could see shadows on the pond, and so many different kinds of plants seemed to be in this pond. There used to be a pair of ducks that hung out here- I wonder where they have gone. The pond looked oddly empty without them.

It's funny, even when you have walked a track a few times, there are always new things that jump out at your eyes. I had never noticed the orange bits on some of the broom flowers before.

And another surprise was the amount of fungi I saw today. I really only expect to see them like this in autumn.

I'll be back on these tracks a lot in the coming months, so you might get to see more photos from here...

316: fungus surprise

2011-11-12T15:45:00.000+13:00

I was walking blithely down a set of stairs on a walking track this morning, when I realised there were quite a few fungi around. Fungi are something I associate more with autumn, so I was a little surprised...
(There are a few other photos from this walk on my Kiwi Nomad blog.)

315: spiderweb

2011-11-11T18:50:00.000+13:00

I don't know enough about spiders to know what kind of spider makes this kind of web. But I do know I will feel guilty about destroying a whole well-developed ecosystem when I finally get around to tidying up my garden...

313: shell collection

2011-11-09T18:33:00.000+13:00

... a little collection of shells in the spare bedroom for visitors....
(Yes, another indoor shot. It's been grey outside for too many days!)

312: kitchen still life

2011-11-08T19:55:00.000+13:00

I love noticing details in kitchens- not in the neat, tidy, ultra-modern kitchens where everything is hidden away- but in the kitchens with 'personality' where things spill out all over. This photo was taken in my kitchen, which tends to be a bit chaotic at times(!).

311: early roses

2011-11-07T17:33:00.000+13:00

The roses have started to bloom at school. It always feels like summer has arrived when that happens- even though it was cloudy and overcast here most of the day...

310: eucalyptus trunk

2011-11-06T14:27:00.000+13:00

I was out walking again today, on the walkways near Summerhill Drive, getting my hill practice in. Was planning on a three hour trek, but in the end with the drizzle I settled for two- and it feels like I had a good workout. There is a lot of hill walking needed before I leave town next April!

306: chooks

2011-11-02T16:36:00.000+13:00

Two of the trio of school chooks, free-ranging in the garden. It wasn't one of these two that had an egg go kersplatt yesterday!

304: spiderweb in sunlight

2011-10-31T17:16:00.000+13:00

I have taken photos of spiderwebs before, but usually outlined by raindrops. I was delighted to get this shot this afternoon, outlined by the sunlight.

Lagoon Babies

2011-10-30T12:58:00.000+13:00

This post is dedicated to Jim Fowler, who would have told me off in no uncertain terms for talking about baby coots and cute ducklings!

This morning I took a spring walk beside the Lagoon. Quite a few ducklings were around- and I know Jim would have told me exactly which species these were.

But mainly today I spent my time watching four young coots on a nest, and their two parents who were feeding them.

Here are three of the four young coot waiting for a parent to bring food.

The fourth young coot was on top of the nest, next to two large eggs that seemed to have been abandoned. I wondered if they were swan eggs, but perhaps they could have been goose eggs.

Now two of the young coots are up on top of the nest, near the large eggs.

Here is a parent returning to feed the young. (You can see this other shot of feeding on my 365 blog.)

In this shot you can see that the baby coot already seems to have some sturdy legs and feet.

Another feeding shot...

These young coot were venturing occasionally onto the water, but never far from the nest.

Wellington Adventure

2011-10-30T12:22:00.001+13:00

In the recent school holidays I had a little adventure with my two young nieces. Here are just a few tidbits from the waterfront- such a great asset to be enjoyed by everyone these days.

There are many and varied sculptures to see as you walk by.

This was a view from Te Papa over part of the harbour and a nearby marina.

The girls were especially fascinated by the way this artist was making a sand sculpture for Diwali, in a tent next to Te Papa. We watched for ages, and they probably would have gladly stayed a lot longer watching him.

I know when a friend from Vancouver went walking in the city with me a while back,
she was fascinated by the buildings.

A yacht in the harbour- and there were kayaks not far away from it.

Part of the mooring for a historic vessel being restored.

303: coot mealtime

2011-10-30T11:51:00.000+13:00

Last weekend I spied some newly hatched coots at the Lagoon, hidden away on a nest in some rushes. This morning four young were outside on another nearby nest, and the parents were bringing them food. Ahhh it was lovely to watch!
(I think the large egg nearby might be an abandoned swan egg: another lady watching told me she had seen a swan on this nest last weekend.)

298: back to normal

2011-10-25T18:08:00.000+13:00

The excitement of the Rugby World Cup has finished- the relaxation of the holidays is over- it's back to 'normal' today. But I have some nice bits and pieces to make a sandwich for lunch...

Queen - 'We Are The Champions'

2011-10-24T11:56:00.000+13:00

294: ducklings

2011-10-21T16:16:00.000+13:00

Love cruising in the hols! At the Esplanade today I saw some ducklings swimming in the pond- ahhh lovely springtime!

291: coot nesting

2011-10-18T14:07:00.000+13:00

Last year was the first year I discovered coots nesting at the Lagoon here in Palmy, then went back again in a few weeks to see their interesting young ones once they had hatched. I remembered that today, when I spotted a few unexpected ducklings in the Square, so I decided to head off down to the Lagoon for a wander. Here is one of the Australasian coots I saw nesting, only a few metres from the lagoon edge.

290: sheep & lambs

2011-10-17T12:09:00.000+13:00

This morning I headed up Kahuterawa Rd again for a walk, and saw these sheep and lambs along the way. After a late evening watching the excitement of an All Blacks victory over Oz, I found it took me the whole 4km of the uphill stretch to Green's Rd just to wake my body up properly!

287: Sculptured All Black

2011-10-14T15:36:00.000+13:00

This statue - Solace in the Wind- by the sea near Te Papa in Wellington is usually naked- but he seems to have acquired some All Blacks clothes ahead of the RWC semi-finals...

286: rock climbers

2011-10-13T15:24:00.000+13:00

I don't usually put many 'people' shots on here but here is one exception. Had a lovely little 'adventure' in downtown Wellington with my two nieces. What was one of their favourite activities? Climbing all over the three large rocks outside Te Papa. This beautiful specimen happens to have originated from Mt Egmont- it's andesite.

More from the Secret Garden

2011-10-12T22:00:00.000+13:00

Back in March I posted some photos from my sister's garden: she has little hidden treasures all around the place. I was there again today, and have a few more treasures, (or different angles on treasures), to show you... Enjoy!

284: afternoon tree shadows

2011-10-11T16:24:00.000+13:00

Afternoon tree shadows fall on the side of St Peter's Church, Terrace End.

283: stained glass detail

2011-10-10T17:33:00.000+13:00

Detail in a stained glass window of the Annunciation
made by the South Island stained glass expert, Graham Stewart
in St Pat's -Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Palmerston North

Turitea Rd Walk

2011-10-09T17:23:00.002+13:00

It was a nastily cold afternoon/evening outside yesterday, and I guess I wasn't expecting to wake up to sunshine today. But I did, and that sunshine spelled 'Walkies'. Camino/Chemin training has begun for me now:- in about six months I will be in the northern hemisphere for their spring, and walking will be my daily diet for more than a few weeks, so the time has come to start getting ready!

I decided that a casual stroll up Turitea Rd might fit the bill this morning, so parked my car at the walkway carpark on Old West Rd. I came across these sheep sheltering under a tree very early on, and they kindly stayed still and posed for me.

They were just the first of the 'cooperative' animals today. Next were the alpacas in a front paddock. (There is another photo of them on my 365 blog.)

Soon after that I heard a kereru fly overhead, and it perched itself on this tree for a good feed.

I walked up as far as the bridge by the Turitea Water Reserve, and decided to walk back via the Green Corridor as far as I could. Here they have been planting trees over the years, and you can access a track that runs near the stream.

And if in fact you want to walk the length of the corridor, in three places you even have to cross the stream...

...and get your feet wet. Ahhh but it was fun- I haven't done it for a while. (And my shoes don't seem to have minded the dunking either: they are nearly dry after spending several hours in sunshine on the back deck.)

Here's where I left the Green Corridor- feeling grateful to those who keep adding to it.

The last stretch back to the car was in warm sunshine- no jersey needed. And when bathed in sunshine, even mundane things like rusty fences become things of beauty.

That was the first of many walks I expect to take in the coming months. I'll keep you posted....

282: alpacas

2011-10-09T12:44:00.000+13:00

I went walking up Turitea Rd in some welcome sunshine this morning, and passed by a paddock with some alpacas in it - not such a common sight in NZ. They were all staring at me, though I don't think I really frightened them too much...

280: clematis

2011-10-07T19:52:00.000+13:00

The clematis on the fence with my neighbours is coming into bloom now, and I imagine it will soon look spectacular again...

279: orange tulip

2011-10-06T18:39:00.000+13:00

I love the hues of this tulip- gently laden with fire...

278: St Peter's Spring

2011-10-05T17:59:00.000+13:00

Just over two weeks ago I posted a photo of St Peter's Church and how the springtime has advanced already. The smaller tree was still bare of leaves, and the larger one only had a thin flush of light green. The season moves on towards summer...

277: kowhai

2011-10-04T17:16:00.000+13:00

The kowhai tree outside the classroom is coming into bloom...

RWC in Palmy

2011-10-02T14:07:00.001+13:00

We have just a few days to revel in the excitement of local games for the Rugby World Cup here in Palmy- but we have made the most of them!

On Wednesday before the Georgia-Romania game, there was a roadshow in the Square, with lots of "bouncy castles' for people to have fun doing their rugby thing on.

Plus there was a concert, and The Nerines were one of the bands on stage-

with my godson on lead guitar

and his bro on the drums...

Yesterday afternoon there was another free concert in the Square. A local group did the warm-up honours at the start, and these local kids were having fun jiving in the aisles.

Then Hollie Smith performed with her own special sound...

and Dave Dobbyn came last, a superb performer, much beloved by the crowd.

This morning I woke to hear heavy rain on the roof for the day of the Argentina/Georgia game. But by the time I emerged from swimming lengths at the Lido it was warm and sunny, and hopefully the showers will hold off for the game...

I was struck by the contrast of posters as I headed towards the Square. I would have used this as my 365 photo for today, except that the Argentinians were all so lively in the Square!

Some Argentinian supporters- I've got their photo and they've got mine!

And many thanks to this young lad who was kind enough to pose for me...

I presume this group were being interviewed for Argentinian TV...

These guys didn't exactly bring along a diminutive version of their flag!

This guy was wearing a Brazilian flag, but he was made welcome by the blue&white flag bearers!

Just missed the posed shot here- local police were kind enough to pose with some Argentian supporters beside an Argentinian bus...

275: Argentinian Fans

2011-10-02T13:22:00.000+13:00

Loud and Proud! Here are some Argentinian fans in the Square this morning, en route for the game that has now started at Arena Manawatu against Georgia :-) We were consigned to have only two minor games in Palmy for the RWC- but that hasn't stopped us having a party for a few days!

274: Dave Dobbyn

2011-10-01T20:29:00.000+13:00

Lovely spring day for a wonderful free concert in the Square here in Palmy today. Headline act was Dave Dobbyn whose music was superlative. First time I have heard him live.

Just as well I got this photo when I did. People at the front in the part of the crowd I was in stood up- no more view. Creeps.

268: cherry blossom

2011-09-25T14:50:00.000+13:00

Cherry blossoms at the Esplanade- another of Palmy's secret treasures...

266: riverside walk

2011-09-23T17:27:00.000+12:00

Another lovely spring day. I wore a summer skirt and top all day, and never lived to regret it! On the way home I took a walk in the sunshine down by the riverside...

265: beautiful afternoon

2011-09-22T18:02:00.000+12:00

This afternoon we had the best spring weather yet. I took this photo down by the riverside on my way home. I was just wishing I had my new walking sandles with me to take a walk along there...

263: cheerful greeting

2011-09-20T17:44:00.000+12:00

These yellow daisies grow like weeds, and I keep having to yank them out- but oh how I love seeing the sunshine on their petals when I arrive home- such a cheerful greeting...

Downtown Springtime

2011-09-17T15:31:00.000+12:00

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

258: a treasure

2011-09-15T18:26:00.000+12:00

My niece made this 'Australian Aboriginal doll' when she was still at high school, and gave it to me as a gift. She is 26 now, and this still reminds me of her, with great affection.

257: magnolia

2011-09-14T17:21:00.000+12:00

I know I said I was going to try and take photos with some different themes in the remaining part of the year, but when you walk into school in the morning, and the morning sunlight is on the magnolia like this.... there isn't really any option but to take a photo!

Kahuterawa Rd- springtime

2011-09-10T20:04:00.001+12:00

I have begun 'training' for a couple of Chemins in France next year... and today took a 20km walk up my old training haunt- Kahuterawa Rd. I had walked the first 4km last weekend, so mostly walked swiftly up this part of the route, without taking photo breaks- but I couldn't possibly pass by without taking a photo of this handsome rooster. His crowing was apparent from well down the road.

Once you pass beyond the Green's Rd intersection, things become more isolated and 'wild' looking, and the river keeps you company as you walk.

It was calm when I started out, and so I was able to take a photo of some young pine cones: the past two weekends it has been too windy and they were moving too quickly for a close-up...

This shot is taken from the bridge at the top end of Kahuterawa Rd, where the Sledge Track starts, and where this bridge leads to Burton's Track. It marked about 10km of walking, and I had a 10km return trip ahead of me. I sat at the picnic tables and had 'lunch' at about 10am (!) then rewarded myself with a chocolate treat, before heading back down the road.

Drizzle started as I left, and a kind elderly man stopped to offer me a lift. I think I know who he was- a man who has done a lot of volunteer work to open up the tracks in this area for people's recreation. But I didn't want a lift- I am likely to encounter far heavier springtime rain on the route from Cluny next year, and I was 'training'. The man understood. I love the sense of 'mystery' in the hills when their tops are draped in cloud like this.

I was excited to see some clematis growing against a rocky outcrop on the roadside where I could get a close view of it. (Mostly it is higher up in the trees.) I was reminded of all the spring flowers I saw in 2008 when I walked south from Le-Puy-en-Velay. Somehow, the northern spring seems not at all far away.

This is a view approaching the Green's Rd intersection from the uphill end of Kahuterawa Rd: it's not so often I reach it from this direction, and the gnarly old macrocarpa stand out from here.

One of the things I loved last time when I walked along this road many times to 'train' was that I saw the changing of the seasons- from spring to summer to the beginnings of autumn (when I left NZ to go and walk in the French spring...) My heart already is singing with the thought of the changes I will see in the countryside, and I was glad to see so very many obvious signs of spring. There were only glimpses of sunshine this morning, but the light brought these tiny little leaflets to life.

And the lambs- they always announce 'spring'!

253: Clematis

2011-09-10T16:18:00.000+12:00

For my overseas readers, the white New Zealand clematis is a special jewel of springtime here. Typically, you might catch a glimpse of it high up in some trees when you are out somewhere in the bush. The past couple of weekends I have seen bits of it, mostly high up or fairly distant, as I have been walking along Kahuterawa Rd, 'training' for next year's long walks in France. But today I saw some close-up, spilling down a rocky roadside bank. The conditions appear to be rather harsh for anything to grow, but there it is, looking so beautiful.

It reminded me of a special sight in April 2008 when I was walking in France. I had taken a 'rest day' on Day 11 of my Chemin, as several days of walking with saturated feet had led to some Large Blisters. I felt like a bit of a 'failure' needing to do this, but the next day dawned fine and sunny, and the route for walking was beautiful. This blessed day, I saw some flowers that seemed to come forth out of rock. Today, I was reminded of that memory as I looked at the clematis...

Town and Country

2011-09-10T08:19:00.001+12:00

Some photos to share.... first lot are from last weekend's frosty morning walk up Kahuterawa Rd- and second lot are of the Palmy Clocktower at night. (Click to get larger versions.)

I don't know what it is about this particular landscape- but I always love it when I round the corner and see those hills in the distance, and usually some animals in the foreground by this shed.

I was amazed I managed to capture this spiderweb. The early morning sun was behind it.

Looks kinda cute the way these two are facing me- but the reality is they were staring at me making sure I wasn't a threat.

Always love the colours of the sky behind this letterbox, contrasted with the colours of the soil, and its pattern of erosion. It's like finding 'old friends' walking up this road again.

And now for some more night-time Clocktower photos. No explanation needed!

Assessment

2011-09-07T17:45:00.000+12:00

248: new socks

2011-09-05T18:39:00.000+12:00

New socks and liners ready for the Chemin next April. So soft and fluffy... a shame to use them really- would make a good ornament! They are Bridgedales like last time- I am a firm believer in good socks and liners for blister-prevention. And since my last socks/liners were still whole and entire at the end of 1500km+ last time, that is all the reason I need to invest in some new Bridgedales.....

247: ready for guests

2011-09-04T20:24:00.000+12:00

It's been a busy weekend with a 21st celebration (Go Joe!) and visitors from out of town. Here is a selection at a friend's house, ready for people to have drinks of tea, hot chocolate, water etc...

246: frosty lamb

2011-09-03T12:37:00.000+12:00

Headed out for a walk in the countryside this Saturday morning. Frost was quite thick on the ground and my fingers were tingling in the cold for the first hour or so, making me wish I had brought my woollen gloves with me. This lamb already had its own woollen coat...

245: afternoon shadows

2011-09-02T17:02:00.000+12:00

There are some interesting shadows late in the afternoons at present...