May came along in the blink of an eye. We had family come over again - what a treat.
We went for a bike ride - caught the train to Waikanae and rode back along Waikanae river, stopped for some gear malfunctions, sauntered down the expressway to Paekakariki - our first stop for lunch. Then with the northerly behind us (what a treat!) we had a easy ride along the coast and over the hills and through suburbia. A couple of quiet weekends - doing a bit of cooking and tidying for our family visit at the end of the month. Can't wait.
Some more nice walks - over to Transmission Gully to see the progress on the new motorway. In some ways pretty amazing, but in others the landscape has changed for good in not a particularly positive way. We will do a longer walk over there when we are prepared to navigate a bigger stream than we can jump.
Then it was time to visit Mana Island. A lovely sunny windless day. How rare is that in May? We spent a while standing in the car park - one of the volunteers was late - something quite normal I understand. But who can argue with a volunteer who gives their time to plant an island and nurture wildlife? We met a couple from Makara who have started a "gecko" retreat. Well, they have built the homes with DoC permission. They aren't allowed to catch geckos from the wild, or buy them, so they only way to grow their farm is to be given them by others who haven't caught them in the wild or bought them. So, the farm isn't growing very fast and they have to date 5 geckos and none of them breeding pairs. But lucky geckos - a safe, busy environment for them to live and they are being protected as many of them are rare.
The boat trip over was bumpy. We stood outside breathing in the salt air, looking at the mainland from a different perspective. Hanging on tight, lifting bags from the water that came under the rails and avoiding "drunken" sailors from treading on toes, we were rather glad when we arrived. After a talk from the DoC ranger and his family we headed off for our guided tour. It was a gentle walk up the hill to the top -although the guide described is as quite steep - probably because there were a few oldies in the group. Surely, Harry and I don't fit into that group yet!!
We heard the stories of how the bush had been planted - saw photos of the 1970's when the land was bare with a few sheep living off the inhospitable land. The bush has regenerated well but now they need to cut some down as Takahe like to live in scrub. Since Takahe never lived on the island without catching a boat - I detected a slight level of frustration with cutting bush down. Anyway, it is a major breeding ground for Takahe - when the babies are about 6 months they get shipped down to the west coast. Here older Takahe foster them and teach them to root for food in the different terrain with more deep rooted plants. We humans should take a leaf out of the Takahe book to care for our children. Once the babies have grown and can look after themselves they are taken to Kahurangi National Park to make their home. A fantastic story of many volunteers helping to save one of our national treasures.
And then there is the gannets. A concrete family of them, with the squawk of a gannet trying to attract the flock back to the island - where once there lived a colony. No such luck so far, except for the one gannet a wee while back who arrived and fell in love with one of the concrete ones. Unfortunately, no babies sprung from that relationship. Given they are migratory and teenagers fly to Australia for a few years - there is always hope.
Along the west side of the island is a nice place for lunch looking over the sea and to the north is Kapiti. Here we heard about the rare flax weevil (no photos as I wasn't allowed to dig for them). They were rehomed from the South Island and have started to kill the flax? Why? Down south they lived in harmony chewing the roots of the flax - but leaving their plant source alive - enough for a rainy day at least. Here the flaxes have drooped and the leaves are dead. Scientists now know in the South Island there is a fungi that lives in the ground by flaxes which keeps a natural balance and kills a few hungry weevils. So now the fungi is being transported over to the Mana Island flaxes. Another example of how human intervention can ruin the natural balance of our environment. On the way back the wind turned to the south and we were glad of our hats and coats. We enjoyed it - a worthwhile trip.
A rugby game at the Stadium with Alison - members stand no less. We ate our meals at a table shared by 3 locals who attend every game in the stand. One was from the UK (still had his accent but had been here for a while). Before I started my dinner (burger and chips) he asked to have some chips to mop up his gravy. Thought he could have waited until I had finished, but he had 2 lots before he realised I wanted to eat some. Maybe I should have just said "no" but there were rather a large number and that would have been a bit rude since we gate crashed their table. The price one has to pay!!
And then it was time for our families to arrive. 3 grand children and 4 adults descended on our house. What a wonderful 3 weeks of being together. Trips to the zoo and up Kau Kau, brunches and chill out time.
And welcome to the world little Max.
Zealandia on a summers day after brunch with Jill and Graham.
And I went for a fun walk on the way to the car one day - through Northland - the steepest steps I have ever been on I think.
We went for a bike ride - caught the train to Waikanae and rode back along Waikanae river, stopped for some gear malfunctions, sauntered down the expressway to Paekakariki - our first stop for lunch. Then with the northerly behind us (what a treat!) we had a easy ride along the coast and over the hills and through suburbia. A couple of quiet weekends - doing a bit of cooking and tidying for our family visit at the end of the month. Can't wait.
Some more nice walks - over to Transmission Gully to see the progress on the new motorway. In some ways pretty amazing, but in others the landscape has changed for good in not a particularly positive way. We will do a longer walk over there when we are prepared to navigate a bigger stream than we can jump.
Then it was time to visit Mana Island. A lovely sunny windless day. How rare is that in May? We spent a while standing in the car park - one of the volunteers was late - something quite normal I understand. But who can argue with a volunteer who gives their time to plant an island and nurture wildlife? We met a couple from Makara who have started a "gecko" retreat. Well, they have built the homes with DoC permission. They aren't allowed to catch geckos from the wild, or buy them, so they only way to grow their farm is to be given them by others who haven't caught them in the wild or bought them. So, the farm isn't growing very fast and they have to date 5 geckos and none of them breeding pairs. But lucky geckos - a safe, busy environment for them to live and they are being protected as many of them are rare.
The boat trip over was bumpy. We stood outside breathing in the salt air, looking at the mainland from a different perspective. Hanging on tight, lifting bags from the water that came under the rails and avoiding "drunken" sailors from treading on toes, we were rather glad when we arrived. After a talk from the DoC ranger and his family we headed off for our guided tour. It was a gentle walk up the hill to the top -although the guide described is as quite steep - probably because there were a few oldies in the group. Surely, Harry and I don't fit into that group yet!!
We heard the stories of how the bush had been planted - saw photos of the 1970's when the land was bare with a few sheep living off the inhospitable land. The bush has regenerated well but now they need to cut some down as Takahe like to live in scrub. Since Takahe never lived on the island without catching a boat - I detected a slight level of frustration with cutting bush down. Anyway, it is a major breeding ground for Takahe - when the babies are about 6 months they get shipped down to the west coast. Here older Takahe foster them and teach them to root for food in the different terrain with more deep rooted plants. We humans should take a leaf out of the Takahe book to care for our children. Once the babies have grown and can look after themselves they are taken to Kahurangi National Park to make their home. A fantastic story of many volunteers helping to save one of our national treasures.
And then there is the gannets. A concrete family of them, with the squawk of a gannet trying to attract the flock back to the island - where once there lived a colony. No such luck so far, except for the one gannet a wee while back who arrived and fell in love with one of the concrete ones. Unfortunately, no babies sprung from that relationship. Given they are migratory and teenagers fly to Australia for a few years - there is always hope.
Along the west side of the island is a nice place for lunch looking over the sea and to the north is Kapiti. Here we heard about the rare flax weevil (no photos as I wasn't allowed to dig for them). They were rehomed from the South Island and have started to kill the flax? Why? Down south they lived in harmony chewing the roots of the flax - but leaving their plant source alive - enough for a rainy day at least. Here the flaxes have drooped and the leaves are dead. Scientists now know in the South Island there is a fungi that lives in the ground by flaxes which keeps a natural balance and kills a few hungry weevils. So now the fungi is being transported over to the Mana Island flaxes. Another example of how human intervention can ruin the natural balance of our environment. On the way back the wind turned to the south and we were glad of our hats and coats. We enjoyed it - a worthwhile trip.
And then it was time for our families to arrive. 3 grand children and 4 adults descended on our house. What a wonderful 3 weeks of being together. Trips to the zoo and up Kau Kau, brunches and chill out time.
And welcome to the world little Max.
Wellington on a still winters night.
And I finished some more knitting.
Zealandia on a summers day after brunch with Jill and Graham.
And I went for a fun walk on the way to the car one day - through Northland - the steepest steps I have ever been on I think.
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