First there is a mountain
Then there is no mountain
Then there is.
Donovan Lietch, 1966
Yesterday we got great looks at Mt. Taranaki. This morning it wasn't to be seen. We started the day at Marian's suggestion with a stroll along part of New Plymouth's Seafront Walkway, a 6km beach hike/bike trail. Hardly anybody was out but us and some surfers.
Then we drove to the SE corner of Taranaki district to walk around the shores of Lake Rotokare. This is yet another nature preserve that has been fenced to keep out imported predators so New Zealand wildlife can thrive.
Building a predator-proof fence is no small matter.
So off we went on this 4km hike. It was mostly level (only one of those staircases that we are coming to think of as the signature of New Zealand hiking trails).
It was mostly in deep woods and a bit muddy in spots from the recent rains. We could hear lots of birds but most of them stayed out of sight.
One that didn't hide, and this kind of made the day, was the New Zealand Giant Pigeon. We've been wanting a good look at him and there he was. Just like a normal pigeon, but the size of a big chicken. Scary!
And, he wears a singlet!
As we headed back through the cattle ranch country, Taranaki popped out.
Shasta will always be our first love, but Taranaki is just one damn fine mountain.
The sculptured hills created by cow and sheep grazing.
Damn fine mountain.
No comments:
Post a Comment