I successfully found a pair of trainers that weren’t extortionate and a swimsuit so I am all set for exercise (just need a bicycle too). After a little adventure on the bus and walking to Lyall bay I arrived in the warm sunshine to the black sand beach. The bay is the one you see if you fly into Welly and I watched a few planes come in and not feeling sorry that I was sunning myself on a beach and not on a plane. After getting a txt on my new flashy touch screen phone (yes yes I have succumb to the Android) saying that I wasn’t able to get the room in Brooklyn that I wanted, I headed to look at another property. Following a disappointing house viewing, I head for the Otari-Wilson’s Bush reserve. The Reserve is a woodland of only native plants and trees. I spent the whole afternoon walking through the woodland. It was lovely and cool away from the heat and I heard lots of my favourite bird (at the moment, because of its’ funny call) the Tui and also an 800yr old Rimu tree.
Wednesday evening I went to sus out the tramping and mountaineering club. I turned up and was greeted by a lot of oldies but eventually found a few people that actually welcomed me and got excited about mountains with me. I am off on a hike along the Orongaronga track to the east of Wellington (no I still am struggling with pronunciations – give me a break it has only been less than a fortnight!). Guy Fawkes night there is also a hike which I am tempted by. Hopefully by Jan I will get to know enough people so I can go on some Alpine treks :-D
Spurred on by the hope of mountains, I decided to do a short day hike to Island Bay. I had intended Island bay but then got tempted by Red Rocks then ended up going to Devils Point seal colony. I set off in the strong summer sun with cap and plastered in sun cream (Im such a good girl!). Going up through the numerous mountain and walking tracks surrounding the city I got some gorgeous views of Welly harbour and the other bays. Apologies there are many a photo – I have tried to be selective. The tourist books say Welly has some great mountain bike trails – that is a mild statement – they are mad crazy about cycling here and you are either a Road Cyclist or a Mountain biker! Hybrids are so rare L.
Wellington is so wrinkled (see Earthquake blog to follow) that is taking me time to work out proximities and directions but seeing it from above helped a little and also Google maps is a god-send! And if you look at Google maps and see not a lot, it isn’t Google being lazy, honestly there isn’t much there! Or there may be a big hill or two in the way! Anyways, getting on to the ridge I saw the clouds peeking over the hills but I was too keen and also had a backpack full for inclimate weather gear. The Welly wind came back in force! I loved it! I put my merino wool on which kept out the wind but was cool enough in the strong sun – MERINO ROCKS!
At one point I rounded a corner and saw some snow-capped mountains in the distance. Now most of you will know how much I love mountains – lets say I was slightly excited – this was the view from the hills of Welly! Apparently the mountains were on the South Island and I hope you can just make them out on the photos. Then I got down to Devils Point seal colony where there was an interesting absence of seals and people. I saw about 4 people until reaching the coast so it was lovely and peaceful. I nibbled on some homemade bread and the infamous Moro bar – like a Mars bar only better! Just as TimTams are better than Penguins!
The coast was lovely and rugged but also much windier than the ridge with a lot of the jumping into the wind and being blown back type of strength. The Red Rocks were – yes you guessed it – they were red! I was very well behaved with resisting collecting stones and shells and cool bits of drift wood! There was a dirt road/path along the coast which I followed back to Island Bay (btw you can see all this places on Google maps or other map programs – not being prejudice). There were signs along the way saying only drive here if you are experienced at off roading lol it would be nice bike ride though for visitors. The wind got up and I experienced mini sand storms. Then arriving at Island bay there were loads of Tsunami signs around directing you in the direction of higher ground!
A bus home, more house viewing then an earthquake awareness talk! I will make a separate blog for the house hunt adventures once they are complete and also do an earthquake one too!
