I've been up to the top of Kapiti a couple of times, and flown low (as well as many times in commercial flights) over it with my then brother in law. This shows the bush regenerating stunningly in a predator free environment. Kuruman (you'll see her and the kids further up the album) and I were back from Darwin: I assumed this would be a rare visit home to NZ and that I would see out my days in OZ. In the shot of Kuruman and kuruzapplets they are at the lookout on the escarpment, but as it so often is it was covered in cloud (a bit like Table Mountain, @MaryLouise, albeit writ small). Priefly the clouds parted put it isn't a great photo. A few years later I went again, this time with a bunch of yoof from my parish but at the moment I can't find photos from that trip.
There is a lot of advertising on-line for domestic tourism these days - none of it encourages to step outside my front door*, but those shots of the bush on Kapiti… Maybe I won't go there, but the West Coast of the South Island, or even the bush in the valley where I grew up would be the places that call to me.
* Snow leaves me cold, literally and figuratively.
Climacus, you just want somewhere to wear that lovely jersey.
My youngest brother, who knows about bush says that some of the virgin bush around the valley where I grew up is properly classed as jungle. Apparently the term is used to indicated a wide range of species growing there (not as I had always thought a tropical place with monkeys depicted by Rudyard Kipling.)
I've been up to the top of Kapiti a couple of times, and flown low (as well as many times in commercial flights) over it with my then brother in law. This shows the bush regenerating stunningly in a predator free environment. Kuruman (you'll see her and the kids further up the album) and I were back from Darwin: I assumed this would be a rare visit home to NZ and that I would see out my days in OZ. In the shot of Kuruman and kuruzapplets they are at the lookout on the escarpment, but as it so often is it was covered in cloud (a bit like Table Mountain, @MaryLouise, albeit writ small). Priefly the clouds parted put it isn't a great photo. A few years later I went again, this time with a bunch of yoof from my parish but at the moment I can't find photos from that trip.
That is spectacular, Zappa -- I've seen the view from the top of Table Mountain in many seasons and all kinds of weather. The easiest walk up (not arduous climb) is from Constantia Nek, going up through Cecilia Forest and passing dams.
The first time I went to Kapiti was when you were still allowed to feed the. birds. A kaka sat on my shoulder shoulder and measured my eye with his big parrot beak — I felt quite safe! Wekas scuttled past on the tracks. I still remember the sound of the tieke (saddlebacks) which wasn't quite like the recording played sometimes on the radio. Then or on the second visit there were takahe in the long grass down below (the flightless bird long thought to be extinct until rediscovered in 1948). Blue with a red beak, a bit like a bigger pukeko.
I've been up to the top of Kapiti a couple of times, and flown low (as well as many times in commercial flights) over it with my then brother in law. This shows the bush regenerating stunningly in a predator free environment. Kuruman (you'll see her and the kids further up the album) and I were back from Darwin: I assumed this would be a rare visit home to NZ and that I would see out my days in OZ. In the shot of Kuruman and kuruzapplets they are at the lookout on the escarpment, but as it so often is it was covered in cloud (a bit like Table Mountain, @MaryLouise, albeit writ small). Priefly the clouds parted put it isn't a great photo. A few years later I went again, this time with a bunch of yoof from my parish but at the moment I can't find photos from that trip.
That is spectacular, Zappa -- I've seen the view from the top of Table Mountain in many seasons and all kinds of weather. The easiest walk up (not arduous climb) is from Constantia Nek, going up through Cecilia Forest and passing dams.
First time I went up Table Mountain I went up Skeleton and down what I think was Nursery. This last time (March) I went up Kasteelspoort, spent a chunk of time in the Tranquility Cracks, and down the Corridor Ravine - then back along the pipe track to Theresa Avenue. Good fun. Won't bore you all with pic links.
Kapiti on the other hand has only one legal route - well it splits into steep and gentle options but the beginning at sea level and the top at about 500 metres are the same.
You wouldn't be boring us at all... Sounds rather wonderful.
Day 2 of the new job. Early days, but I think I made the right move. Enjoying getting to know my colleagues and the work is challenging as well as interesting -- a combination I was looking for. I realised health would be large and complex: I underestimated.
I am breaking away from the Church of Snowhaters here and joining the One True Church of Those Who Relish Seeing and Revelling In The White Stuff*.
I was one of a party of several families who went to Ruapehu for a weekend. My kids were primary school age. We duly donned skis and repaired to the beginners' gentle enclosure. I would glide for a few metres and flop down, someone would pick me up and I'd try again. The two kids would fly past, waving and calling 'Hi Mum!' so I gave up and sat in the shelter. I can't remember what my husband did but he stayed on the snow.
Next day I went for a long walk in the sunshine along the railway line in the centre of the North Island and then went back and cooked a nice dinner for the party.
Now I get videos of the grandchildren, who live 20 minutes from a great ski field in Canada, doing incredible things on skis from a young age.
Boooooo indeed... I'll organise a helicopter to pick you up and you can be dropped at the top of Ruapehu on skis...
I remember learning to ski as an adult [I had gone once or twice as a kid, but forgotten], and watching these 3 or 4 year olds, with helmets, barrelling down the mountain as if it were nothing. I was very impressed. And embarrassed that snails tore pass me at the speed I stuck to.
Some nice views along the railway... And nice walks. When I'm headed up I often stop to look at the Makatote Viaduct and the Raurimu Spiral [can you tell my dad worked for the railways?]
My Dad remembered his father treating the family to a trip on the newly completed railway. Dad was born in 1901; his elder sister in 1900, and there were two younger ones. They lived in Dunedin. I guess they visited one of Dad's uncles who lived in Auckland.
Some nice views along the railway... And nice walks. When I'm headed up I often stop to look at the Makatote Viaduct and the Raurimu Spiral [can you tell my dad worked for the railways?]
Two of my favourite spots. My dad was also a railway man.
That would have been wonderful. I'm hoping to catch the train from Wellington to Auckland one of these days.\
The daylight journey is great — I did it once. Trying to figure out where the road was, when the scenery from the railway line was different to what I was accustomed to.
In the past I have travelled on the Limited Express to Auckland overnight several times, but as that hasn't been available for a while my last train trip was during daylight hours from Wellington to Auckland and it was fascinating. Last time I returned to Wellington on an overnight bus and it was horrendous. I used to travel on overnight buses overnight buses fairly frequently and enjoyed it, but in those days they weren't as busy.
GG I discovered a book titled Kapiti by Chris Maclean in the library. It was published in 1999 and is a history of the island well illustrated with photos. I thought it might interest you.
I'm taking it along to my book group which restarts on Wednesday (Huia does the happy dance).
The Raurimu Spiral is a wonder of engineering and shoud ideally be travelled in both directions. Great memories from the time there was a daylight train between Wellington and Auckland, often with commentary of salient geographical and engineering features of the journey.
I used to buy a 2 week ticket which allowed me on all trains, NZR buses and the Cook Strait ferries (fairies!) within a 2 week period. I'd travel from Auckland (where I lived with my family) to Invercargill (where my maternal Grandma lived) and back. I must have been 17 the first time and both excited and terrified.
For the first view of Wellington Harbour I love the North to South trip. The train bursts out of the tunnel and there's the Harbour in its full glory. I love Wellington Harbour, especially on a fine day. I would love it in a storm too, but only if I was in a house on a hill somewhere warm behind windows.
Gallilit what an adventure.
In recent years there has only been the daylight train. I don't know, but I wonder if this is because the train company gets more revenue from tourism than it does from NZ travellers. I don't think it runs during the winter months either (but I may be muddling it with the Coastal Pacific). Also there are no passenger trains that travel south of Christchuch now. I am so glad I travelled to Invercargill when that train was still running.
I did a Google search and the only comment I could find on their Wordpress site was dated March and mentions going into lockdown. I doesn't look like they are part of Queenstown's intrusive search for domestic tourists.
For the first view of Wellington Harbour I love the North to South trip. The train bursts out of the tunnel and there's the Harbour in its full glory. .
Indeed!
It is one of the views that gets me most emotional of everywhere in Aotearoa~New Zealand. Another being the first sighting of the coastline from the plane
I was born in Wellington but as a child and young woman lived in a number of places but in my late twenties came back to Wellington and, okay, I've been here 60 years (yes, do the math). Every time I drive round the harbour from Petone and see the city spread before me I think "My beautiful city!' with great joy.
I am hoping the passenger railway line to Invercargill reactivates some time ... you'd pass thirty metres from our kitchen window (and about three metres from oldest kuruzapplet's bedroom window in town).
I also hope the Gisborne line re-opens. And bring back railcars.
I also hope the Gisborne line re-opens. And bring back railcars.
I feel very strongly abut the Gisborne line. It's a rich area with possibilities for farms, crops and orchards, if only they could move stuff out by rail.
And railcars were great.
As for first sights — I can't remember the scene in detail, but flying in to Christchurch from Australia at sunrise over the snow-clad Alps was indeed an emotional moment. Back in the sixties or maybe '57.
I saw Wellington in all her glory yesterday from the Skyline Track, wandering up and down hills forto the west of the city, and up to Johnsonville. Stunning views. Of a stunning city.
I continued a kilometre or so more, and did a few small deviations, so it ended up around 15 km I think.
The Raurimu Spiral is a wonder of engineering and shoud ideally be travelled in both directions. Great memories from the time there was a daylight train between Wellington and Auckland, often with commentary of salient geographical and engineering features of the journey.
I used to buy a 2 week ticket which allowed me on all trains, NZR buses and the Cook Strait ferries (fairies!) within a 2 week period. I'd travel from Auckland (where I lived with my family) to Invercargill (where my maternal Grandma lived) and back. I must have been 17 the first time and both excited and terrified.
Mrs BA and I honeymooned on NZ Railpasses 42 years ago, beginning from and returning to Auckland and reaching Invercargill. Mrs BA cross-stitched a tablecloth during the train and bus journeys, and we kept crossing paths with another travelling couple who thought we were long-married by the domesticity of it all. The weather was a bit dramatic, as we were almost stranded in Franz Josef by floodwaters, and then crossed Cook Strait the day ferry services resumed after a gale. We were among the few who did not get seasick.
We saw Raurimu Spiral twice, once from the Silver Fern railcars and then on the return journey a freight train breakdown delayed the night train so that we reached the spiral after sunrise as the conductor delivered our morning cup of tea.
I still have the set of NZ Rail corporate logo-ed cufflinks from that trip acquired from a station souvenir counter.
I spent the weekend up in the river city of Whanganui. Very nice.
I did a 7+ hour hike from the lovely River Road which while a bit tough going (a steep descent...glad I had my poles) was lovely -- particularly as the low fog hung around all morning and looking out on it from a height was so calming. Several cows and a later a goat led me in procession part of the way!
Sounds lovely Climacus. I think that there may still be a company that hires Kayaks so you can paddle the Whanganui River too.
Gee D have just read a news article that says the Northener Train isn't running yet, but the Tranz Alpine (Christchurch to Greymouth) is. It's an amazing trip that I've done several times, the last being a week before the September 4th 2010 earthquake. We were standing in Greymouth looking at the Alps when I asked Kelvin, an engineer about the probability of a quake in Christchurch - "Higher than most people think," he said.
Sounds lovely Climacus. I think that there may still be a company that hires Kayaks so you can paddle the Whanganui River too.
Gee D have just read a news article that says the Northener Train isn't running yet, but the Tranz Alpine (Christchurch to Greymouth) is. It's an amazing trip that I've done several times, the last being a week before the September 4th 2010 earthquake. We were standing in Greymouth looking at the Alps when I asked Kelvin, an engineer about the probability of a quake in Christchurch - "Higher than most people think," he said.
Thanks - that trip really looks good. We're thinking of early February so as to get mild weather and longer daylight hours without the Christmas holiday crowds. But all depends on the virus.
I spent the weekend up in the river city of Whanganui. Very nice.
I did a 7+ hour hike from the lovely River Road which while a bit tough going (a steep descent...glad I had my poles) was lovely -- particularly as the low fog hung around all morning and looking out on it from a height was so calming. Several cows and a later a goat led me in procession part of the way!
I survived - just - ten years of boarding school and, subsequently, a couple of additional years working there
You have got around... Glad you got through it. I am picturing you out in the bush as a modern day St Francis with a tui on one shoulder and a
kerurū* on the other.
Thinking back to the bushfires (seems an eternity ago), some research: Smoke from Australian fires rose higher into the ozone layer than ever before.
* if you know them not, my first encounter with one was being frightened as I was walking in the bush and heard this loud noise coming from behind and above -- their wing flapping is loud
The one piece of advice I remember from my form 3 science teacher was, "never walk under any berry tree if there is a kereru perched in it." As they are capable of eating large fruit they poo copiously, which of course means they are useful for spreading the seeds.
I had never heard their call until I visited Geraldine ln the South Island where there was a large flock of them.
The one piece of advice I remember from my form 3 science teacher was, "never walk under any berry tree if there is a kereru perched in it." As they are capable of eating large fruit they poo copiously, which of course means they are useful for spreading the seeds.
I had never heard their call until I visited Geraldine ln the South Island where there was a large flock of them..
They are also rather stupid and inclined to crash into (closed) windows more than other birds. There is a lot of bush down the hill from here (10 minutes from the city centre on the other side of the hill!) so many native birds: I've seen kereru, tui and kingfishers sitting on overhead lines. If they're silhouetted against the sky you can recognise the kereru, they're bigger and fatter - it's taken a lot of effort to stop Maori from eating them as a traditional food.
I've heard of Kereru getting drunk from fermented berries too, which doesn't improve their flying.
Are you taking part in the backyard bird census GG? I would think the variety you see would give you a long list. Not so here, although i did see some colourful small birds that I can't name yesterday. I should ask the young boy down the road whose Mum was encouraging nature study observations during lockdown.
Fantastic variety here, and my bird-feeding habits (honey water, seed and chook pellets) means there are often two or three hundred on our top lawn. Many of course are exotics, but I like them too ... the main indigenous birds are tui, korimako and the variously named white/silver/wax-eye (tauhou) ... kereru hang round in a quizzical and sometimes drunken stupour and benefit from the Ngaio bushes mainly (and strawberry tree to a lesser extent) but not my feeding ... occasionally I inadvertently feed a passing harrier (perhaps falcon?) who swoops in for breakfast but I force myself to remember that nature will always be red in tooth and claw.
The non-indigenous birds include sparrows, chaffinches, green finches (obstreperous little buggers), dunnock, yellow hammer, starling, blackbird, a shy song thrush or two, and we think redpoll. Seagulls circle (red-billed and black-backed ... not sure about the black-billed)but since I went to a more "professional" food choices have largely spurned the healthy options. The neigbours' chicken (chook), whose visits started it all, waddles in imperiously from time to time. I hear moreporks at night. We are of course not far from the albatross colony, but they never venture up the harbour (seals and sea lions do, but tend not to fly).
I've heard of Kereru getting drunk from fermented berries too, which doesn't improve their flying.
Are you taking part in the backyard bird census GG? I would think the variety you see would give you a long list. Not so here, although i did see some colourful small birds that I can't name yesterday. I should ask the young boy down the road whose Mum was encouraging nature study observations during lockdown.
I used to take part but mostly see only sparrows, perhaps because I don't put crumbs out regularly, or because the neighbours' cats have us on their circuits.
Yes, I've seen the odd goldfinch, a couple of chaffinches the other day, but never likely to have any variety at a given time to record. There's always a resident blackbird about which I could tell stories, the resident tui, an occasional fantail; I used to have flocks of waxeyes but only the occasional one now. Sometimes a starling.
Sparrows used be everywhere when I was growing up. Now their position, at least in Sydney, has largely been taken by mynas and sparrows pushed well inland.
Those nasty mynahs have certainly increased in number in Melbourne. I've been trying to get the man in the flat neighbouring mine to understand why it is not a good idea to throw slices of white bread for them every morning, but his English isn't very good. I think he enjoys watching them squabble over his offerings.
I was really surprised to see goldfinches in Hamilton NZ. In fact I thought I was seeing things until one of the locals said that was indeed what they were. Far commoner, it seemed, than in the UK.
If I put out scattered crumbs the resident blackbird isn't keen to let the sparrows share but they have their technique: they fly down, snatch a crumb and fly off to eat it before he can try to shoo them off. And repeat. If I put one crust, he won't let 2-3 sparrows share it but when I spread some porridge and there were 16 sparrows (I think; they didn't stand still to be counted) he backed off.
The Canadian grandchildren loved the sparrows. I remarked that I loved the way they bobbed along, so they called them 'the bobbing birds'.
Someone told me firmly never to feed white bread to birds. I wouldn't anyway; I never eat it myself. But I once saw a clip from an English paper about someone feeding white bread to ducks in a park who got told off by a park keeper they weren't to feed them white bread. And fair enough.
Comments
* Snow leaves me cold, literally and figuratively.
It looks just like north coast rainforest here used look before the fires last summer.
* excepting on days of penance when it needs to be shovelled
My youngest brother, who knows about bush says that some of the virgin bush around the valley where I grew up is properly classed as jungle. Apparently the term is used to indicated a wide range of species growing there (not as I had always thought a tropical place with monkeys depicted by Rudyard Kipling.)
That is spectacular, Zappa -- I've seen the view from the top of Table Mountain in many seasons and all kinds of weather. The easiest walk up (not arduous climb) is from Constantia Nek, going up through Cecilia Forest and passing dams.
First time I went up Table Mountain I went up Skeleton and down what I think was Nursery. This last time (March) I went up Kasteelspoort, spent a chunk of time in the Tranquility Cracks, and down the Corridor Ravine - then back along the pipe track to Theresa Avenue. Good fun. Won't bore you all with pic links.
Kapiti on the other hand has only one legal route - well it splits into steep and gentle options but the beginning at sea level and the top at about 500 metres are the same.
Day 2 of the new job. Early days, but I think I made the right move. Enjoying getting to know my colleagues and the work is challenging as well as interesting -- a combination I was looking for. I realised health would be large and complex: I underestimated.
Next day I went for a long walk in the sunshine along the railway line in the centre of the North Island and then went back and cooked a nice dinner for the party.
Now I get videos of the grandchildren, who live 20 minutes from a great ski field in Canada, doing incredible things on skis from a young age.
I remember learning to ski as an adult [I had gone once or twice as a kid, but forgotten], and watching these 3 or 4 year olds, with helmets, barrelling down the mountain as if it were nothing. I was very impressed. And embarrassed that snails tore pass me at the speed I stuck to.
Some nice views along the railway... And nice walks. When I'm headed up I often stop to look at the Makatote Viaduct and the Raurimu Spiral [can you tell my dad worked for the railways?]
Day 4 of the new job and I'm stuffed. I planned to do a tramp (hike/bushwalk) or two on the weekend but I think I may just sleep.
Two of my favourite spots. My dad was also a railway man.
The daylight journey is great — I did it once. Trying to figure out where the road was, when the scenery from the railway line was different to what I was accustomed to.
GG I discovered a book titled Kapiti by Chris Maclean in the library. It was published in 1999 and is a history of the island well illustrated with photos. I thought it might interest you.
I'm taking it along to my book group which restarts on Wednesday (Huia does the happy dance).
I used to buy a 2 week ticket which allowed me on all trains, NZR buses and the Cook Strait ferries (fairies!) within a 2 week period. I'd travel from Auckland (where I lived with my family) to Invercargill (where my maternal Grandma lived) and back. I must have been 17 the first time and both excited and terrified.
Gallilit what an adventure.
In recent years there has only been the daylight train. I don't know, but I wonder if this is because the train company gets more revenue from tourism than it does from NZ travellers. I don't think it runs during the winter months either (but I may be muddling it with the Coastal Pacific). Also there are no passenger trains that travel south of Christchuch now.
Indeed!
It is one of the views that gets me most emotional of everywhere in Aotearoa~New Zealand. Another being the first sighting of the coastline from the plane
It's getting closer, I think, but yeah, Covid.
I am hoping the passenger railway line to Invercargill reactivates some time ... you'd pass thirty metres from our kitchen window (and about three metres from oldest kuruzapplet's bedroom window in town).
I also hope the Gisborne line re-opens. And bring back railcars.
*whistles* "some may say I'm a dreamer ..."
And railcars were great.
As for first sights — I can't remember the scene in detail, but flying in to Christchurch from Australia at sunrise over the snow-clad Alps was indeed an emotional moment. Back in the sixties or maybe '57.
I continued a kilometre or so more, and did a few small deviations, so it ended up around 15 km I think.
Mrs BA and I honeymooned on NZ Railpasses 42 years ago, beginning from and returning to Auckland and reaching Invercargill. Mrs BA cross-stitched a tablecloth during the train and bus journeys, and we kept crossing paths with another travelling couple who thought we were long-married by the domesticity of it all. The weather was a bit dramatic, as we were almost stranded in Franz Josef by floodwaters, and then crossed Cook Strait the day ferry services resumed after a gale. We were among the few who did not get seasick.
We saw Raurimu Spiral twice, once from the Silver Fern railcars and then on the return journey a freight train breakdown delayed the night train so that we reached the spiral after sunrise as the conductor delivered our morning cup of tea.
I still have the set of NZ Rail corporate logo-ed cufflinks from that trip acquired from a station souvenir counter.
I did a 7+ hour hike from the lovely River Road which while a bit tough going (a steep descent...glad I had my poles) was lovely -- particularly as the low fog hung around all morning and looking out on it from a height was so calming. Several cows and a later a goat led me in procession part of the way!
Gee D have just read a news article that says the Northener Train isn't running yet, but the Tranz Alpine (Christchurch to Greymouth) is. It's an amazing trip that I've done several times, the last being a week before the September 4th 2010 earthquake. We were standing in Greymouth looking at the Alps when I asked Kelvin, an engineer about the probability of a quake in Christchurch - "Higher than most people think," he said.
Thanks - that trip really looks good. We're thinking of early February so as to get mild weather and longer daylight hours without the Christmas holiday crowds. But all depends on the virus.
A prescient engineer.
I survived - just - ten years of boarding school and, subsequently, a couple of additional years working there
kerurū* on the other.
Thinking back to the bushfires (seems an eternity ago), some research:
Smoke from Australian fires rose higher into the ozone layer than ever before.
* if you know them not, my first encounter with one was being frightened as I was walking in the bush and heard this loud noise coming from behind and above -- their wing flapping is loud
https://gaylenebarnes.com/portfolio/saints-and-birds/#jp-carousel-92
I had never heard their call until I visited Geraldine ln the South Island where there was a large flock of them.
There are also lots of (introduced) wallabies.
Like it!
They are also rather stupid and inclined to crash into (closed) windows more than other birds. There is a lot of bush down the hill from here (10 minutes from the city centre on the other side of the hill!) so many native birds: I've seen kereru, tui and kingfishers sitting on overhead lines. If they're silhouetted against the sky you can recognise the kereru, they're bigger and fatter - it's taken a lot of effort to stop Maori from eating them as a traditional food.
Are you taking part in the backyard bird census GG? I would think the variety you see would give you a long list. Not so here, although i did see some colourful small birds that I can't name yesterday. I should ask the young boy down the road whose Mum was encouraging nature study observations during lockdown.
The non-indigenous birds include sparrows, chaffinches, green finches (obstreperous little buggers), dunnock, yellow hammer, starling, blackbird, a shy song thrush or two, and we think redpoll. Seagulls circle (red-billed and black-backed ... not sure about the black-billed)but since I went to a more "professional" food choices have largely spurned the healthy options. The neigbours' chicken (chook), whose visits started it all, waddles in imperiously from time to time. I hear moreporks at night. We are of course not far from the albatross colony, but they never venture up the harbour (seals and sea lions do, but tend not to fly).
I used to take part but mostly see only sparrows, perhaps because I don't put crumbs out regularly, or because the neighbours' cats have us on their circuits.
Yes, I've seen the odd goldfinch, a couple of chaffinches the other day, but never likely to have any variety at a given time to record. There's always a resident blackbird about which I could tell stories, the resident tui, an occasional fantail; I used to have flocks of waxeyes but only the occasional one now. Sometimes a starling.
The Canadian grandchildren loved the sparrows. I remarked that I loved the way they bobbed along, so they called them 'the bobbing birds'.
Someone told me firmly never to feed white bread to birds. I wouldn't anyway; I never eat it myself. But I once saw a clip from an English paper about someone feeding white bread to ducks in a park who got told off by a park keeper they weren't to feed them white bread. And fair enough.