Went for a walk Sunday

Took the family up the moutain for a bird's eye view of Wellington and the South Island on Sunday. As Dennis was not feeling very well Chris and I figured we would take him up about half way to Mount Kaukau, and then she would turn back and I would continue the journey.

When we got just short of half-way I snapped this picture, our home is just before the valley opens up. (If you look real close you will see a blue roof our home is the green room just up the hill from the blue roof. Got it?)

We continued to the sign (no picture unfortunately) and I gave my coat to Chris, it had my keys and as it was much warmer up in the sun than I had thought it would be I didn't need it at all. Well she and Dennis turned back to go home and I wandered up the hill.

It is so hard to describe how beautiful it is up there. Once I rounded the bend and went up a wee bit this is what I saw.

Still the picture does not do it justice, even two pictures. That would be 2000 word essay worth cannot describe how it feels to be up here. Notice the South island in this picture.

It is desolate up here, all you really see is pasture, sheep, water, and some mountains in the distance. Turning to my right the valley to the north.

Just to the right of the above picture is Mount Kaukau my destination.

I do wish that I had taken my camera with me as the pictures would have been so much better, but these are not too bad for a cell phone. Plus the cell phone add the extra benefit of not having one of those lanyards to carry it with, so I had to put the phone back in my pocket. This was a good thing, for as I put my cell phone back into my pocket I noticed that I had my keys!

Now you may remember that I gave Chris my coat with my keys in it so she could unlock the house. So here I am on the ridge, Chris expects that I will be two hours behind her; and she has no way to contact me. I may have my phone with me she does not have hers.

So I quickly start to go back to the house. Run on the flat (I don't run downhill.)

I did enjoy the view of the valley on the way down, there were at least two better photo opportunities than the one I took, however they will have to wait for my next trip up the hill as I was in a hurry.

I finally did make it home to an open door and a happy family. Inquiring as to how they entered in the house I found out that my son had crawled through the bedroom window. Few windows here in NZ have screens, so no damage was done. But I was still impressed as there is only about 6" wide opening.

Dennis was quite happy with himself for having crawled through the window, especially given that he had his mother's approval.

Danger up north ...

Don't let anyone tell you that life is idyllic down here. There is a little known spider here in New Zealand which can kill an adult male ... The Katipo!

I bring this up for there was a close call recently! I want everyone of you to read this article so you can take appropriate precautions when you are down here.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10644813

Outward Bound

Chris has written a few letters from outward bound.  I can report that she is having fun.  She is learning how to shovel out chicken coops, make cement, and row kayaks.  She has tramped up mountains and can now find here way through the woods with a compass and a map.  She has been rained upon with some amazing downpours and enjoyed glorious sunny days in one of the most beautiful places in the country

The trip is proving to be more emotionally and mentally stressful than physically, which means it is working as designed.

She craves chocolate and licorice; the care package will be on its way tomorrow.

Lake Ferry

This past weekend (Saturday through Monday) Dennis and I went to Lake Ferry.  For those who do not know New Zealand Geography (and I suppose for those who do) Lake Ferry is about 20 miles from Wellington ... if you were to fly East South East over the bay and over the Rumitucka mountains.

It is a 90 minute drive.

You have to go all the way to Upper Hutt, and then over the mountains, and then all the way down Martinbrough Valley to the water.  There are two bridges over the river that runs down the valley so choose your route, and your bridge wisely.  (BTW Google shows another bridge which doesn't exist, mercifully I spoke with some friends who have family who live down by Lake Ferry.)

We stayed in a tent at the Gateway Holiday Park (www.gatewayholidaypark.co.nz) the park is small even by New Zealand standards however we had a great time.  This is so typical New Zealand.  We arrived an the inn keeper was in Wellington for the soccer game.  He left a sign on the door saying to text him if you needed a room, and if you wanted to camp just have at it and come find him in the morning.  This place is so trusting!


So we choose a well sheltered place from the wind.  And a good thing we did as the winds were upwards of 70mph over the weekend.  I was waken up more than once as the tent attempted to fly away with me in it.  Yes they were very strong winds.  Dennis enjoyed the trampoline and meeting the other guests at the park.  There were no other children which was disappointing but he made up for it by befriending the park dog.


On Sunday Dennis and I went to the Seal Colony and light house.  This is the furthest south on the north island.  Desolate is the word that comes to mind.  The road goes right along the ocean for most of the drive and there is no one there.  One town outside of Lake Ferry and a few Batchs (summer homes) here and there.


The Seals were the hit of the day.  Dennis loved them and wants to go back.  I am quite keen to do so for there are a few other sites down there which I would like to explore.

The Second Ridge-line ... for the fourth time.

We (the family) went up to the second ridge-line this afternoon. In route Chris told me that it is known as the skyline walkway around here, so I learned something new today.

Not much has changed in the past 11 months (first time I went up there was August 17th 2008 - well that is when I posted the results of my first walk) the gullies are still there, the path is still the same, the views are still amazing. Nothing has changed, that is not quite true ... I have changed.

What I distinctly remember my first time up there was how tired I was at the top of the hill. Today when we got to the top I glanced to my left at the place where I had sat down to catch my breath the first time. However I had no need to rest today, just kept on walking to one of my favorite spots up there.

So after 11 months of daily walks to and from the Ministry of Health, that is 2 kilometers one way including up a 200 meter hill evening, has put me in good (relatively) shape. Not a bad outcome after my first year in New Zealand.

Got to love those hills!

Here we are at the top over looking one beautiful valley or another ...

The Second Ridgeline!

Today I went out for a long walk on the ridge line to the West of Chartwell. This is the second ridgeline West of Wellington. It is significantly higher altitude than the first (Tinakori Hill) and has much less population.

I drove to the Wilton Power station parking lot got out of the car and started walking up the hill. It was not a very long walk, about 45 minutes when all was said and done. And actually the walk itself was not very interesting. A few gullies, but by the time you've seen as many as I have it was not awe inspiring. Towards the end there was a very steep incline and then I was at the top of the ridge with great views of the Harbor, South Pacific, Tasman Sea, and the South Island!

I sat down for a while and admired the views. After I caught my breath I walked over to the fence line a bit south and downhill from me. And much to my surprise, and a very pleasant surprise it was, there was a stile. I stepped over the stile and was in some farmer's field which went on forever!

So I walked the ridge line for a while. There was no one up there, I mean not a soul. I heard sheep bleating and felt the wind blowing there on top of the world. The views only got better as I walked around. Not because of a significant change in my vantage point but because the clouds rolling through gave the light different hues. The South Island looked like a dream with the light beams hitting the Marlborough Sounds. As there was little wind the water was calm and reflecting the changing light beautifully.

I have marked our Google Map with the hike I took. As you can see it is not very long just steep. I am sure that I can walk across the Mountain ranges to the Tasman Sea. Just need a long weekend and a good pair of hiking boots!