Friends for the weekend and at last a feeling of summer in Wanaka

I've just waved goodbye to my old mate Al., companion on many a trip in great mountains, and his two boys.

Sadly their mum passed on a couple of years ago and I'm not sure how or why, but this seems to have strengthened a bond I've always had with them. A very special one, and one I think they're aware of too, but can't yet articulate!

They were over from South Canterbury to compete in a yachting regatta, and I've never seen so many Optimist class boats down at Wanaka Yacht Club before, all so shiny, colourful and slick...Nearby at Bullock Creek it was obvious the flavour of summer is now with us...Young Nicos enjoys the Dinosaur Park playground...On walking back up to my vehicle this scene caught my eye, comprised of the texture of grass, Californian Poppies and a power distribution box set against a nice typical westerly sky...

Our lonely symbols of mortality - a reflective trip into the Nevis Valley, Central Otago

A bunch of crosses in a populated cemetery can numb my mind if I consider the whole experience of being human, and the collective experiences of all who've gone before us to once again return to the dust of the universe.

A lonely grave seems to bite deeper - the space creates context that can be reflected on...


The symbol of the cross as being part of death, is I find an interesting concept, e.g. while doing the yoga mountain pose [standing tall and straight - not as easy as it may seem], then raise our hands to the sky [and follow with our eyes], then slowly bring them down, palms out, in an arc to our sides, accompanied with an exhalation we create space - both outwardly and physical in the heart/ribs/shoulders, and so on the descent of our hands we become a cross.

Up until making these images last weekend, on yet another trip to Central Otago's Nevis Valley I'd sort of reckoned that it was Christ's death that consolidated the symbolism of the cross, but now I'm not so sure. Could be he picked it to make a point.

Amid all that suffering he opened his heart to all. Created space in yoga terms if you like. And like all crosses if viewed from below the sky [universe] takes on the role we can't comprehend, that of the infinite...


Some of our pioneers obviously had this in mind when they placed a bird next the lonely cross in the Nevis Valley cemetery. Note the bird faces north and slightly upwards...


We entered the Nevis this year from the Bannockburn end [as opposed to Garston in Southland], and on topping Duffers Saddle were quite taken aback as photographers, by the light on the back of the The Remarkables...


This well designed verandah on an historic cottage will have seen many happy relaxing lazes in the sun, and shade...


In this dry continental climate rust does almost sleep...


Modern day [night!] travellers...


Modern day symbols, if you like of not such a distant past...

Yet another cross...


The ponds in the background were created by gold dredges - with limited water they'd daily shift their own hole that they occupied...


Eroded not by nature, but by miners washing down the cliff with large water blasting nozzles, known as sluicing guns...

Wanaka Forest and Bird Branch ~ trip in the Oteake Conservation Park

Yesterday I had an interesting look at a block of country nearby that I've not seen before. The Wanaka Forest and Bird group organised it and it was down the west branch of the Manuherikia river and up the east. Accessed oddly enough from the Omarama end of the Mackenzie Basin over Omarama Saddle

For those of you interested the Manuherikia river is better known in it's lower reaches around the Alexandra area, but it has it's headwaters well north of St Bathans.

It's all to do with the relatively new Oteake Conservation Park, which in the area we travelled was originally Twin Burn Station, which was purchased for The Crown by the Dept. of Conservation about 3-4 years ago.

Typical access and grind to high altitude, then down to the river on the other side of Omarama Saddle...


Our briefing...




The first of many river crossings...


Getting my camper over this bridge was quite stressful due to it's size. Even this lighter vehicle got stuck - most of us had to "gun" up the eroded and undercut lip, hoping we arrived with the bounce placing us squarely on wheel width planks - in between were gaping holes...

One of two huts in the area...

There was a lot of technical driving - no way you'd want to fall off to the right!..

One of two sections that held us up a bit. The vehicle in the rear is getting a tow, a Nissan X-Trail that quite impressed us, for a car in this sort of hard core 4wd country. The 'Cruiser in the front has to be careful to not drop a wheel into the obvious hole. Such a mistake could easily result in a roll-over, even for this capable truck..


It's only steam...


My old friend Geoff Wayatt surveys the terrain - the vehicle on the right is "bellied" after a wheel fell in a hole...


My relaxed friend 4yr old friend Celeste, and Jen my yoga teacher wait for things to get sorted...


Heading home up the vast East Manuherikia into rain, which was not forecast or in the plan...

Time to clean the fuel filter...


Learning about local vegetation - I'm afraid I'm allergic to water 'tho...


Keeping a good gap, as we descend steep slippery terrain back down to the Omarama area...

Many thanks to Errol Carr of Wanaka Forest and Bird and those who got their feet wet helping smooth the way.

For the return home over the Lindis, I escorted the vehicle with a fuel filter problem. Steve simply stopped every 10-15 Kms and cleaned it so we got there without too much of a hassle.

I quite enjoyed the stops for a variety of reasons - the light being one...




And now all that is remaining are the memories, the photos, and a dirty truck...

A wild and beautiful late spring

It's pretty normal to get some wild equinox driven weather this time of year in this neck of the woods in Wanaka, and this year has been no exception.

What maybe an exception is I seem more "into it" this year. If I've got to concentrate on being in the moment, then that's not what it's about, but maybe having the camera always in the pocket enhances awareness!

Last night's stillness pervaded my soul on my evening walk to town and back...


Back home on my deck this year the clematis is making a bid to get indoors [or it's trying to escape!]. The weather must agree with it's growth plan...

A happy magnolia...


Last week's big snowfall...








And just to round things off there are places in nature more dark than the sky...