A late start to the day, but a glorious one. Climbing up and over the hill via Aro valley in down into the next. The air was cool, with a faint taste of autumn but the clear sky deep blue overhead.
At $8 a head we were expecting to make the most of the afternoon as we search our bags for stow-away ferrets and passed through the fence.
Tracks snaked off around the lake and in to the forest. Well equipped with sandwiches and a map we set of in search of wildlife. All about were quiet sounds of birds and the smell of damp.
We found a cave, the remnants of a bygone gold mining era, walls crawling with huge wetas, all spiked and armored.
Somewhere close at hand we heard the rustling in the grass and peeped over a low fence and saw a smallish tuatara lying in the grass and eying us cautiously.
Then it was time for food, sun soaked, on the green grass by the ducks. The day wound on in quiet afternoon relaxation and the birds flew about. Kakas and Tuis amongst the trees, feeding, calling and flying.
Further up, towards the end of the valley, a huge concrete dam curved round through the trees to block the upper valley and a spreading pool. Mounted binoculars allowed us to look back toward the distant suburbs.
We spent the remainder of the time flat on our backs, gazing up and out through the trees to the blue yonder and playing over ideas great and small while the earth turned on and on.
March 12 - Eastbourne
The day dawned bright and clear but quickly turned windy and grey. What were we to do with our plans? The other side was close but across the water.
Risking all we boarded the boat for a windy crossing to Eastbourne. The sun was out and the sky above the trees. A ridge ran off into forest, asking us to follow close.
Up in the trees, far from the city now, all is quiet and a sweet smell of leaves and growing fill the air.
To the top, to the edge of the sky we climbed and looked out and down in all directions on the world. Moments spent on the verge of the earth and sky, seeking peace and tranquility. Serenity abounds.
Now down again, through the tress and creeping suburb to the water edge, the waiting boat and home again to the well known and unavoidable reality.
