tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-318319612024-03-20T22:45:45.144+13:00Ribbonwood RetreatJulie and Jonathan call their Bed and Breakfast Ribbonwood Retreat after the Ribbonwood tree that grows near their home. Once common these trees are now in decline.
We have planted Ribbonwoods and many other trees to attract native birds back to our garden.
Maori Proverb: If you cut the heart of the flax bush, where will the bellbird sing?Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-3006507625451645152020-04-18T14:07:00.001+12:002020-04-18T14:29:33.647+12:00Loving the slow down time food wise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNe3-x4Bhkp7QL8XvEqK7XPFUGxo-Zxv-haEXdUp6tq66mvzYZpVKhkdet2i2whxL8xf5yyVcrnd8vrVmTeYWub4msTKTtk4WTl0M0PpcpG3O-NveOBqM7R5vZ1BUDYEN4uw3fg/s1600/P1030714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNe3-x4Bhkp7QL8XvEqK7XPFUGxo-Zxv-haEXdUp6tq66mvzYZpVKhkdet2i2whxL8xf5yyVcrnd8vrVmTeYWub4msTKTtk4WTl0M0PpcpG3O-NveOBqM7R5vZ1BUDYEN4uw3fg/s320/P1030714.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #414042; font-family: "source sans pro" , "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Growing food at home is a great way to eat healthy and our guests love everything we make ourselves. One favourite is rhubarb. It is so successful there is a whole big bed of it now. People invariably remark on how healthy it is. So out comes out the rhubarb jam. </span><span style="color: #414042; font-family: "source sans pro" , "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">It is a special feeling as I pick and enjoy fresh and delicious herbs, bush ripened berries and crisp vegetables. We love knowing what goes into our chemical free home grown produce. During lockdown there has been more time to cook up delicious comforting food. Our meals have been something really positive to come out of this time.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlvVWL5WHssPuKXabUdrfgi1YDw0MUAXx1sl4uKryKZNsjSrrg5WegwoswMLoSX2nMPk-9bmjDUo2AhoyrLrnZMwLvYBTVVkbwj9litg0EPoveSTtFXZgk_yo5KAtOTQWJWEy-w/s1600/2018-09-06+11.39.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlvVWL5WHssPuKXabUdrfgi1YDw0MUAXx1sl4uKryKZNsjSrrg5WegwoswMLoSX2nMPk-9bmjDUo2AhoyrLrnZMwLvYBTVVkbwj9litg0EPoveSTtFXZgk_yo5KAtOTQWJWEy-w/s320/2018-09-06+11.39.29.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqZ6P_TVVekyudywkOyyJKTpJbTiT-AxgKnHsMVV9RFAqicQmNDVfwOBXRBvmlvcOS2qXeDXicSqiADoeeSOmak5x4XNy0cVIIO-P1-a-fu9QSvM2B4hMnB125bnrS84okewSpQ/s1600/2018-09-06+11.41.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqZ6P_TVVekyudywkOyyJKTpJbTiT-AxgKnHsMVV9RFAqicQmNDVfwOBXRBvmlvcOS2qXeDXicSqiADoeeSOmak5x4XNy0cVIIO-P1-a-fu9QSvM2B4hMnB125bnrS84okewSpQ/s400/2018-09-06+11.41.25.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1Rt7pJfVFftmkA_jFiCkwbS9Z3BrnEC6Wb3Ab427o1Ig_vWF-SbF3Sb126fOQPq_7LOJ1LC3qcoDYodZzPuQceG8yRVhaFZ6U1qH3NMoCu3c5AhagbKatRtacUT7bzwJVDxZCA/s1600/P1030726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1Rt7pJfVFftmkA_jFiCkwbS9Z3BrnEC6Wb3Ab427o1Ig_vWF-SbF3Sb126fOQPq_7LOJ1LC3qcoDYodZzPuQceG8yRVhaFZ6U1qH3NMoCu3c5AhagbKatRtacUT7bzwJVDxZCA/s320/P1030726.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrIcfs_ExlcCoupUVAZ1-2yah8SHA-thhJAzrGoKU6bdgztX6meemPIE0qQ4bOvUOPv_FD5MnQGsZKRuRy0_Mrx-pww7C2A0zjgAFiJggM-ZbqJ6fK_U9U7xAQ-YrA0wCOFTlHw/s1600/20151229_151940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrIcfs_ExlcCoupUVAZ1-2yah8SHA-thhJAzrGoKU6bdgztX6meemPIE0qQ4bOvUOPv_FD5MnQGsZKRuRy0_Mrx-pww7C2A0zjgAFiJggM-ZbqJ6fK_U9U7xAQ-YrA0wCOFTlHw/s320/20151229_151940.jpg" width="320" /></a>Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-48399984483571779662019-08-04T10:21:00.004+12:002019-08-04T16:16:39.954+12:00Douglas Walk, a 10 minute drive from Ribbonwood, walking over glacial landforms formed between 1600 AD and 1750 AD by glacial advances and retreats.<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #575757; font-family: ClearSans, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I love this walk - jogging or walking the 4 kms through a succession of vegetation types, each representing a different stage of re growth behind retreating ice and different soil types. It also takes me past Peters Pool, a reflective kettle lake, and the historic Douglas Bridge.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpS2coheTQ9JjEpQNAGt9ehXpLkkAG51Q1XukHBS6EK3Bu0ojMSMCXV4caFhWMAYOgqfyKyzXIsJWm-cPLjy-smBO9cSWrYd1V4YowH01kNfpIsIMcmQKgLdeCwR1yC55jODPQqQ/s1600/P1000859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpS2coheTQ9JjEpQNAGt9ehXpLkkAG51Q1XukHBS6EK3Bu0ojMSMCXV4caFhWMAYOgqfyKyzXIsJWm-cPLjy-smBO9cSWrYd1V4YowH01kNfpIsIMcmQKgLdeCwR1yC55jODPQqQ/s320/P1000859.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great glimpses of the mountains through the beautiful forest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDT1s7eE-gOxPp5edIcy7JyFB7MyJ89XtCq1JQP-2dgxdKC10UYH7wZhdrHmM97GAyoMG5L4WtWSGtTSRLvqaUCywK_Bg8AJtfNr1rgEhdiBiVR3zSFwUoc2wuQls8PIG3lBaLbg/s1600/P1000862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDT1s7eE-gOxPp5edIcy7JyFB7MyJ89XtCq1JQP-2dgxdKC10UYH7wZhdrHmM97GAyoMG5L4WtWSGtTSRLvqaUCywK_Bg8AJtfNr1rgEhdiBiVR3zSFwUoc2wuQls8PIG3lBaLbg/s320/P1000862.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the two entry points to the walk, Franz Josef Glacier Carpark</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOTrkBeZ8g2ApU_DlABywdFH0XJIGYg2b-dqAPnX4CgDI3TIGaysPMqVxiRCZ-_y6OnoNHnPeNKhUcjvr1_uPBDgTOANC3LAhZGuC5oL_nLG2ORISlGGP-FF9qE4lMnly6qXXvA/s1600/20190302_130511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOTrkBeZ8g2ApU_DlABywdFH0XJIGYg2b-dqAPnX4CgDI3TIGaysPMqVxiRCZ-_y6OnoNHnPeNKhUcjvr1_uPBDgTOANC3LAhZGuC5oL_nLG2ORISlGGP-FF9qE4lMnly6qXXvA/s320/20190302_130511.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The historic Douglas bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRxRxxXS3ndM6AnGHSvcHCBxXLEWEDLF1TTIUko_Qg_chw3oLWO5NMq6iLy-M-pvs7BwYygEGfcklriOcDBMzskIqXXbRipFCPIweAxP6bzJO8z5zIZJTwoQNVB_C1KYto5V3SA/s1600/P1000864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1600" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqRxRxxXS3ndM6AnGHSvcHCBxXLEWEDLF1TTIUko_Qg_chw3oLWO5NMq6iLy-M-pvs7BwYygEGfcklriOcDBMzskIqXXbRipFCPIweAxP6bzJO8z5zIZJTwoQNVB_C1KYto5V3SA/s320/P1000864.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peters Pool a kettle lake left behind by the retreating glacier, a mirror image </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #575757; font-family: ClearSans, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-51686363212358890882019-07-09T14:40:00.005+12:002019-07-09T15:49:14.732+12:00Galapagos and Ecuador See our blog - https://jjsecuador.blogspot.com/<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkI4ysCyTJXnhHFeCETHOL3DKlDSAslzWl3b0RsGCznGpX6KpzT4ea7syZ8-k45CnHNfi6bij6u7o9UuuJgejVtQBjhSaHo2B07h5tohmQRVwhi7FXeaohcrbWCm0LxYfLQ_9P9g/s1600/1000123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkI4ysCyTJXnhHFeCETHOL3DKlDSAslzWl3b0RsGCznGpX6KpzT4ea7syZ8-k45CnHNfi6bij6u7o9UuuJgejVtQBjhSaHo2B07h5tohmQRVwhi7FXeaohcrbWCm0LxYfLQ_9P9g/s400/1000123.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt Chimborazo and the unique paramo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpo2BayVd1S280DLnKF_MCdVpCtUONPQc4OEIAsS60O58FBAOBI6vzlFD6WQok6FZ6crto6ayiIdAHH1-5LE96UKv3N1RJmhgmtZuwdOYySulkL2RXrhAMridkoPpViR6wvylJA/s1600/20190613_142117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1441" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpo2BayVd1S280DLnKF_MCdVpCtUONPQc4OEIAsS60O58FBAOBI6vzlFD6WQok6FZ6crto6ayiIdAHH1-5LE96UKv3N1RJmhgmtZuwdOYySulkL2RXrhAMridkoPpViR6wvylJA/s320/20190613_142117.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frigate waits for a chance to show off its chest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDnxMqUYh74cRWmxiKUOMwlR1tKWNQ_haihD6zTC7B6Wkp48HjKSBrVvMQhnAumEN4Qj1xupIFhfEav0p_5jvUeCwTMgsGYbTfcx1VUKze1kWZlxfjxcDqmOwVIiSIEFRJGGf9g/s1600/20190511_191517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDnxMqUYh74cRWmxiKUOMwlR1tKWNQ_haihD6zTC7B6Wkp48HjKSBrVvMQhnAumEN4Qj1xupIFhfEav0p_5jvUeCwTMgsGYbTfcx1VUKze1kWZlxfjxcDqmOwVIiSIEFRJGGf9g/s320/20190511_191517.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful people</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLZpdsDXJ1Pcm_5U5ceQT8C7k74vqgL6BUIn6_xebx_ljyh6lP9RQNZbWEaUgJRwgk4sDD73Q-RLsZPLiGqvuGW2bW0HokhPnEt32bGiE8oi0ZU0eavkSciZ2uAcAJ8l5ro1eJQ/s1600/1000131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLZpdsDXJ1Pcm_5U5ceQT8C7k74vqgL6BUIn6_xebx_ljyh6lP9RQNZbWEaUgJRwgk4sDD73Q-RLsZPLiGqvuGW2bW0HokhPnEt32bGiE8oi0ZU0eavkSciZ2uAcAJ8l5ro1eJQ/s320/1000131.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical rural scene</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
We tramped mountains at over 4500m, rode bikes down Ecuadors highest mountain, snorkeled, marveled at the wildlife of the Galapagos, and blew our lungs out walking round crater lakes at altitude. </div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I admired the people
who still wear rich, vibrant colours of ponchos, shawls, and scarves in the dress of Ecuadorians. Some of the
clothes that the indígenas wear so proudly today are adaptations of the
16th century Spanish style costumes. How they manage to balance their hats on
their heads with such elegance is a mystery. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Straddling the equator, the
Ecuadorian coast rises up to snow capped volcanoes then on the other side is
the hot Amazon jungle all in a country not much bigger than New Zealand. The
regions are the western coastal lowlands, the central Andean highlands, the
eastern jungles of the Amazon basin and 1000 km west of the mainland -
the Galapagos Islands. Thanks to its climate and many habitats (alpine grasslands, coastal swamps, tropical rainforest), Ecuador is
one of the most species-rich nations on earth, a megadiversity hotspot. A fabulous place for a holiday we found!<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7OgbI8Hd3KdgFUI1b5EH8oSWvZVm6x3rqvXBxmrJrEMZ3lBGsjpJHA16msyIKtSVbc111RWxxQWYt4lzXfmv49iIDhrQ0nHQubQemfjy_k0-xEuW45wrNlGFCIOwE2I7KyO2-w/s1600/20190613_143720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7OgbI8Hd3KdgFUI1b5EH8oSWvZVm6x3rqvXBxmrJrEMZ3lBGsjpJHA16msyIKtSVbc111RWxxQWYt4lzXfmv49iIDhrQ0nHQubQemfjy_k0-xEuW45wrNlGFCIOwE2I7KyO2-w/s320/20190613_143720.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mighty Galapagos marine iguanas </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPzucMCXHa7eH7fJ1g2IvXhT3iB9KFEjUroZduvCJI76yZ4Nw07Hi3UyehA_tKbMcjGSwHSHWO0DieDjgMXT1OI86Q5qrSfYG6SUcRAqwCwA1ANONDDhiEb5XbwDoCmMT5n8aNA/s1600/1000105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPzucMCXHa7eH7fJ1g2IvXhT3iB9KFEjUroZduvCJI76yZ4Nw07Hi3UyehA_tKbMcjGSwHSHWO0DieDjgMXT1OI86Q5qrSfYG6SUcRAqwCwA1ANONDDhiEb5XbwDoCmMT5n8aNA/s320/1000105.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Challenging riding down Mt Chimborazo and freezing cold </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our Blog - <a href="https://jjsecuador.blogspot.com/">https://jjsecuador.blogspot.com/</a>Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-39262828865792931882019-04-11T18:02:00.000+12:002019-04-11T18:03:36.199+12:00Bellbird sits in the Harakeke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivM8tf_4lEtTN536izVX5UnsB843hqYQYUiHq_BZSLoLVTfOlhrvxOI3JWeu5t9XtfdUrtHJEeFp0C8li-K6qg41cWN0dMbA0mhzos1ee7NCP-IznsuWe_dB-xXRuLFLmLK-90yg/s1600/Bellbird+Liping.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivM8tf_4lEtTN536izVX5UnsB843hqYQYUiHq_BZSLoLVTfOlhrvxOI3JWeu5t9XtfdUrtHJEeFp0C8li-K6qg41cWN0dMbA0mhzos1ee7NCP-IznsuWe_dB-xXRuLFLmLK-90yg/s400/Bellbird+Liping.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: "clearsans" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: "clearsans" , sans-serif;">Thanks so much to our guest Liping who sent us this photo she took in our garden.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: "clearsans" , sans-serif;">Below is a link to learn more about our native harakeke.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/harakeke-flax/">https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-plants/harakeke-flax/</a>Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-89445600073036864892018-10-01T15:56:00.001+13:002018-10-01T15:58:23.002+13:00Flying home from ChristchurchIf you decide to visit us by plane these are the views you may get from Christchurch to Hokitika, clouds permitting! Aoraki is there in all its glory.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy98dHr3KN3LzOL4SirJk1t3clcWw4vZUpt1Ydq15daWnybKbPh6WWV4bmPVo3NwOXwQO6iaL4jfaY0Tu2yi9XWaaj4JPlwuASRjZa-1KYIKPnCqFZkik11M2kWNY1HHzvYcB5fg/s1600/20180422_132135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy98dHr3KN3LzOL4SirJk1t3clcWw4vZUpt1Ydq15daWnybKbPh6WWV4bmPVo3NwOXwQO6iaL4jfaY0Tu2yi9XWaaj4JPlwuASRjZa-1KYIKPnCqFZkik11M2kWNY1HHzvYcB5fg/s400/20180422_132135.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkF8eP5Ta7oUrOlU1raZMLdwayfEGwhpX8ECR1yS_UaIUgrlkzKwsNkOU0xmXsUPFWxtfGSoXr1xOaaFI1eCAjwA3RHJcg1vweXzIKF9KzsdXc9twhuPorzi5Yy21vDBWpr3rtg/s1600/20180422_132249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkF8eP5Ta7oUrOlU1raZMLdwayfEGwhpX8ECR1yS_UaIUgrlkzKwsNkOU0xmXsUPFWxtfGSoXr1xOaaFI1eCAjwA3RHJcg1vweXzIKF9KzsdXc9twhuPorzi5Yy21vDBWpr3rtg/s400/20180422_132249.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-52895826961892782322018-08-02T13:57:00.002+12:002018-09-16T11:43:20.887+12:00Back home 2018Great to escape winter for a two month stint, this time in Italy, the Dolomites and Croatia, with a trip to Kuching, Malaysia on the way home.<br />
<br />
See our blog <a href="http://calotathing.weebly.com/">http://calotathing.weebly.com/</a><br />
<br />
Lots of nice things about being home though, the snow clad mountains are pretty when they decide to show themselves off.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48uGvOzS7K9yIo8j3fcTM0cmfToef4dIMXbPle0rqx4Grzp0VRa02z6elImVBJt39576dNfOn1ZrQUVLYM3YKAY00aZcfl3ItU3856ZeCG7vxCsE5UeA5oHkkKXFJi9efeDXx9A/s1600/2018-07-20+10.57.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48uGvOzS7K9yIo8j3fcTM0cmfToef4dIMXbPle0rqx4Grzp0VRa02z6elImVBJt39576dNfOn1ZrQUVLYM3YKAY00aZcfl3ItU3856ZeCG7vxCsE5UeA5oHkkKXFJi9efeDXx9A/s320/2018-07-20+10.57.12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okarito 3 mile lagoon views</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgH6xijQnhIIsqABVKvLINgjKK7TIoeQ9G9xmIoFI8_aNgGDDBD-0Z38pvCsoU3Z0XEWNaHA4qufi16ULYv6GxQVvig_ZsvRpltIzkpziDJSLPmLxFhDiBYoo-fwkb1SXCutsbQ/s1600/2018-07-20+10.02.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgH6xijQnhIIsqABVKvLINgjKK7TIoeQ9G9xmIoFI8_aNgGDDBD-0Z38pvCsoU3Z0XEWNaHA4qufi16ULYv6GxQVvig_ZsvRpltIzkpziDJSLPmLxFhDiBYoo-fwkb1SXCutsbQ/s320/2018-07-20+10.02.05.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coast on the 3 mile walk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGvBMYt03GTKQ6uQHsJa-2SaiSK6lXFzbnWhyphenhypheniOxsP2q_PRHqGTAG4ulMMzz-uWi4j-fNoqdNQgAnpzSE69enStK1SxeDSuQ0qM6_OdWN6jRQjWl6P6kLr7EYufN3NRTgtY63tg/s1600/2018-07-20+11.12.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGvBMYt03GTKQ6uQHsJa-2SaiSK6lXFzbnWhyphenhypheniOxsP2q_PRHqGTAG4ulMMzz-uWi4j-fNoqdNQgAnpzSE69enStK1SxeDSuQ0qM6_OdWN6jRQjWl6P6kLr7EYufN3NRTgtY63tg/s320/2018-07-20+11.12.57.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Low tide makes an easy walk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoq5bSkhqtAV-sOhCXylwmvRPVAeB18BrH6quchoMks-pu38G7AJi0kfk6-V_ED5gElAWW2jbB4WiScLsXfbFUOFT6_Pos5dh2PGsDGvBPj1mrLMoBakVOEuUZbifo_M4Cva-csA/s1600/20151229_152410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoq5bSkhqtAV-sOhCXylwmvRPVAeB18BrH6quchoMks-pu38G7AJi0kfk6-V_ED5gElAWW2jbB4WiScLsXfbFUOFT6_Pos5dh2PGsDGvBPj1mrLMoBakVOEuUZbifo_M4Cva-csA/s320/20151229_152410.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views from Ribbonwood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-33734938222994610632018-05-05T14:42:00.003+12:002018-09-16T12:10:24.751+12:00Chalet Lookout Track<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGPwsHqsmaWvmNS9xtL87_8la3UoxO-OLYA2w1Pz4uHcUiAHrJ_yVBPuqJabh1psI3wiWg4-Xm7qE7HOlZCid8fIPOjjYzYDMZovkk6ghxP2Dj679dpi0YGifi1zJHKMF8rxDwA/s1600/20170317_130737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdGPwsHqsmaWvmNS9xtL87_8la3UoxO-OLYA2w1Pz4uHcUiAHrJ_yVBPuqJabh1psI3wiWg4-Xm7qE7HOlZCid8fIPOjjYzYDMZovkk6ghxP2Dj679dpi0YGifi1zJHKMF8rxDwA/s320/20170317_130737.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Chalet Lookout</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPlr0sl_5Dn4DtUoOvYZ9i6cGWFoasP023-Zz-MczOpfv1QxOY45kF6u9AbhEpVFeO8Zd7TclwOGF5VTEZEUq1OGhxbM9-04LerED52zASYbiHyZAiPMMT61Ubp9A-_bCyqITog/s1600/20170317_132335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPlr0sl_5Dn4DtUoOvYZ9i6cGWFoasP023-Zz-MczOpfv1QxOY45kF6u9AbhEpVFeO8Zd7TclwOGF5VTEZEUq1OGhxbM9-04LerED52zASYbiHyZAiPMMT61Ubp9A-_bCyqITog/s320/20170317_132335.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These markers once guided the way but now buried</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzShtDwpGgTJJ1NWoZ8jQFQdBmSlCysk6Txw02t_MRSLmXYRXiRTMNVw51Q8WVmsEdyao3X8Gfx03dZJP3mNQYye4Pz6s2I8teusKI_iSD2VaeOhXitAtbtzm1ZUpMAw-lW_jKw/s1600/20170317_132752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzShtDwpGgTJJ1NWoZ8jQFQdBmSlCysk6Txw02t_MRSLmXYRXiRTMNVw51Q8WVmsEdyao3X8Gfx03dZJP3mNQYye4Pz6s2I8teusKI_iSD2VaeOhXitAtbtzm1ZUpMAw-lW_jKw/s320/20170317_132752.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunascape, a far cry from the walk through the forest that once was</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcghEKM_IaOPLHuyuh2qVaFmPHdI9EcF1WNCq9bJJ-N8jkXwJHbYJ9i7pUXaPaZSFEKGwfIFH5AD6AukRELqUtyJS3FtiKwcOCSKDNzje0n8RkheSxxl3JA9OlvQlOqlOgoY5oQ/s1600/20170317_133310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcghEKM_IaOPLHuyuh2qVaFmPHdI9EcF1WNCq9bJJ-N8jkXwJHbYJ9i7pUXaPaZSFEKGwfIFH5AD6AukRELqUtyJS3FtiKwcOCSKDNzje0n8RkheSxxl3JA9OlvQlOqlOgoY5oQ/s320/20170317_133310.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The slip that is the source of all the rubble</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
One of our favourite tracks in the Fox Glacier area has been severely damaged by a massive slip. A once popular track is now lying under the rubble of rocks. It is closed by the Department of Conservation but if you are careful and know where to go you can still get to the platform for magnificent views at the end of what was once the track.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-10497936515395064682018-04-16T17:34:00.003+12:002018-08-02T13:47:08.156+12:00John Foster, Master of Photography<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM4wGT4KMYvMlVRu3uXlsTFzv3DCao2TSUmJNDI7qQq9chebVyWPcH1JUEzTOlrjzNqIyJb7vZKid52XaW20SZY9Ic1gv-djVvSkJBcxK6gECUGsgKqm1EUN4zECWlVWvTnXN_g/s1600/john_foster-100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM4wGT4KMYvMlVRu3uXlsTFzv3DCao2TSUmJNDI7qQq9chebVyWPcH1JUEzTOlrjzNqIyJb7vZKid52XaW20SZY9Ic1gv-djVvSkJBcxK6gECUGsgKqm1EUN4zECWlVWvTnXN_g/s640/john_foster-100.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
We were lucky to have John and Robyn stay with us this season. John is a professional photographer see his link <a href="https://www.foster.co.nz/">John Foster Photography</a><br />
Our cottage is in the foreground and house - on a fine day, these are the views of the mountains and glaciers from every room window. We are situated on Greens Road, just far away from the State Highway to feel peace and tranquility. State Highway 6 runs into the village. We are just 5 kms and 5 minutes drive away from the conveniences of the village.Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-5667523476835009892017-11-03T17:05:00.000+13:002017-11-03T17:07:09.088+13:00Native clematis arrives in the garden - a harbinger of spring <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-ynprPRqZe6yPCCaeODzBIk29hR0mq8q5tr_wN6BPtCEHmhQSNpyIYWTjWEzfwmCCdhGs8y3vB9qWIwlZx7rxRjbT56kLc40G7eTu-khQdKj_xEL6Qn3dWV0dGo-xVJYPgwp7A/s1600/Studio_20171103_155802-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="831" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-ynprPRqZe6yPCCaeODzBIk29hR0mq8q5tr_wN6BPtCEHmhQSNpyIYWTjWEzfwmCCdhGs8y3vB9qWIwlZx7rxRjbT56kLc40G7eTu-khQdKj_xEL6Qn3dWV0dGo-xVJYPgwp7A/s640/Studio_20171103_155802-1.jpg" width="497" /></a></div>
Our native clematis has flowered in the garden more profusely every year - this spring is no exception.<br />
Find out more in this link about <a href="http://www.terrain.net.nz/friends-of-te-henui-group/new-plant-page/native-clematis.html">New Zealand clematis</a>Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-39068211541220934482017-10-13T14:05:00.004+13:002017-10-13T14:05:48.325+13:00Peters Pool named after a 9 year old boy, Peter Westland, who camped here by himself in 1894<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQh-z0uJK61iGhQkzzElk9orfsWvqG-ipm1kDovAJfLUNFg_z7wBdkEMtmeKmpsU3PDN_yVJvNGGHpR6IXerABt1ZszolBQJRtNuD7wntfj6jTn89CnEAwBzADhKVA4FLmmBIdg/s1600/20171009_111207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="1600" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQh-z0uJK61iGhQkzzElk9orfsWvqG-ipm1kDovAJfLUNFg_z7wBdkEMtmeKmpsU3PDN_yVJvNGGHpR6IXerABt1ZszolBQJRtNuD7wntfj6jTn89CnEAwBzADhKVA4FLmmBIdg/s640/20171009_111207.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.86px;">Making the most of this warm spring day we wandered to a view we often see but today was photo worthy! When Peter camped here the glacier was in full view, reaching around the corner with the terminal face just at the back of the lake. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.86px;">This is a Kettle Lake </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.86px;">left behind by the retreating glacier hundreds of years ago. Large blocks of slower melting ice left huge depressions in the valley floor. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.86px;"><br /></span></div>
Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0Peters Pool, West Coast 7886, New Zealand-43.419764099999988 170.17211769999994-43.420124599999987 170.17148719999994 -43.419403599999988 170.17274819999994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-52932366085741298652017-09-24T17:22:00.001+13:002017-09-24T17:55:29.585+13:00A night under the stars at Alex Knob<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOv84-HJTlBQkhNmmCSl43pd4uSDTmJsQEZSbDDYcDrzXq2hVqrlt3Vwho2YBUeUr59wVO2wDg9Lue93cB0J20QP9bU5RVLMvGFS4gGEIqstgujO3GZ7jpMBKQYdrLpW5C4bGEQ/s1600/20170422_180633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOv84-HJTlBQkhNmmCSl43pd4uSDTmJsQEZSbDDYcDrzXq2hVqrlt3Vwho2YBUeUr59wVO2wDg9Lue93cB0J20QP9bU5RVLMvGFS4gGEIqstgujO3GZ7jpMBKQYdrLpW5C4bGEQ/s320/20170422_180633.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great to be on the tops</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #434343; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: 13px;"> Annual pilgrimage 2017</span></span></span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #434343; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #434343; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">From the top of Alex Knob we surveyed the scene below us feeling exhilarated after the grunt up. We were pleased we took the gamble to cart up all our gear to camp as so often the tops cloud over. The views of the Franz Josef Glacier, the Main Divide and Tasman Sea just got better with dusk falling.</span></span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: #434343; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The mountain is named after </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Alexander Graham (Alec.)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> He was one of New Zealand’s most skilled mountaineers. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Through the early twentieth century Alec guided many parties up the Alex Knob track and to the Franz Josef Glacier</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #434343; font-family: "lato" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">. He and his brother Peter were well loved guides.</span></div>
<div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkA88R8WvSOpGfnDfnjFLbNwj5i7AkKAzaC_2DK5ZZdStPEYx6ScrHEQ5-2b22FEH4nH-pLQQ9ro0b9eGVo9Ov6578yfo8JMpULVjBHD8E-I_h4aLly7tQe2s212Kf91bSXAtoqw/s320/20170422_170718.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views out over the Franz township and coast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2C3T9rxxzd2mH5Z7QyieZbj_eANklmtwkcoCr55GN3pXczyJEpzjYlTKvVTUzFmWwtFKIj05OIoaErCXNTbAv4qRJn-3pUTRxDuVA8Mrn20Jbmb427ugqhYkC-KNZlfGWzxhNgw/s1600/20170422_165620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2C3T9rxxzd2mH5Z7QyieZbj_eANklmtwkcoCr55GN3pXczyJEpzjYlTKvVTUzFmWwtFKIj05OIoaErCXNTbAv4qRJn-3pUTRxDuVA8Mrn20Jbmb427ugqhYkC-KNZlfGWzxhNgw/s320/20170422_165620.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting up camp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEAwWZWwRA61Rvm-LOM2SVeIL0JqYAUkqPBsU8SWXle51bjYjrVZ9PWxX_KE2_6vOCZrt1su6W35vLGoGc3dQ_QuNG5hCKQdFexqWOQHNUOL2tp_gpzqAC3aNUcOns2_hGKgBbQ/s1600/20170422_181013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEAwWZWwRA61Rvm-LOM2SVeIL0JqYAUkqPBsU8SWXle51bjYjrVZ9PWxX_KE2_6vOCZrt1su6W35vLGoGc3dQ_QuNG5hCKQdFexqWOQHNUOL2tp_gpzqAC3aNUcOns2_hGKgBbQ/s320/20170422_181013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just us and the keas </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-65718628489795258102017-04-20T19:54:00.000+12:002017-04-20T19:55:47.800+12:00Sunset from the deck<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitD03LiiuGrwrCkJab6HuR6g45sKiXAEQNJpfXld2SXLhW4OB78fc1nSIyHu8MHn1fvU4agsyXgOtxmgvOUhFJTkoNS1RpCFhTxJhpt7hHDwge43wMvGImZ5oamQdgdC9rKPignA/s1600/_DSC0717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitD03LiiuGrwrCkJab6HuR6g45sKiXAEQNJpfXld2SXLhW4OB78fc1nSIyHu8MHn1fvU4agsyXgOtxmgvOUhFJTkoNS1RpCFhTxJhpt7hHDwge43wMvGImZ5oamQdgdC9rKPignA/s640/_DSC0717.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken by our guest Herve Deladriere </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-27373116680129464922017-03-23T12:59:00.001+13:002017-04-20T19:35:51.496+12:00Mr Jo's Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VsfzRoCPMnH8KyIJo1l63MBr9SVOqqzVwtlRaUNACKrMn4jJ1EIJMZJxibHT6Rg50BVjtZU6Fu_8QmMBmYtljikuJsvgcp5zVt14tXoypvAFV6lEMP2EvS43hVmIkcZnJHlcIw/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VsfzRoCPMnH8KyIJo1l63MBr9SVOqqzVwtlRaUNACKrMn4jJ1EIJMZJxibHT6Rg50BVjtZU6Fu_8QmMBmYtljikuJsvgcp5zVt14tXoypvAFV6lEMP2EvS43hVmIkcZnJHlcIw/s400/image1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A visitor to our garden, Harry the hare. He prefers the short grass of our lawn to the long rank grass of our neighbours .</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I couldn't help but think of Peter Rabbit, who was born in 1902 in </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tale_of_Peter_Rabbit" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="The Tale of Peter Rabbit">The Tale of Peter Rabbit</a> by Beatrix Potter</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The widowed mother rabbit cautions her young against entering the vegetable garden of a man named Mr. McGregor, telling them: "your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor". Peter does not listen and is spotted by Mr. McGregor. After all sorts of scrapes including losing his clothing, getting lost and sneaking past a cat he finally crawls under the fence, returning home. Sick Peter is sent to bed by his mother, while his well-behaved sisters receive a sumptuous dinner of milk and berries as opposed to Peter's supper of chamomile tea.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As long as Harry stays on the grass and out of the garden he will be enjoyed by the guests and tolerated by the gardener!</span></span>Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-81101031884975623042017-01-22T20:58:00.001+13:002017-01-22T21:01:54.007+13:00Southern Rata<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgUS8panXYX_2cq4Y2PKoRT_GKaaOhfvJA3p6WkrIDH75wdPF9Ga6bjKjStsz7M2A8O6FsiPYDrpVw1CqnCovUTi5CCI_3GR5YlLKAlxmKHdV-r2D8mA6T6uSJv-4D7aYc99QCg/s1600/2017-01-20+10.17.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgUS8panXYX_2cq4Y2PKoRT_GKaaOhfvJA3p6WkrIDH75wdPF9Ga6bjKjStsz7M2A8O6FsiPYDrpVw1CqnCovUTi5CCI_3GR5YlLKAlxmKHdV-r2D8mA6T6uSJv-4D7aYc99QCg/s400/2017-01-20+10.17.40.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Great to spot southern rata blossoming as we wandered through the glacier valley the other day.Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-81725006218653352652017-01-09T18:23:00.004+13:002017-01-09T19:35:39.883+13:00Our favourite walk in the Franz Josef Glacier area - the Glacier Valley Walk<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjU4n8uH3OtkhaUyCc_1XGxJPdgdXs1-CkM74I3uFDuRjtyq2zWkaSfxN2CSoxtCxnh79f5s-gk3eSDPH9UxHjlHj8o7dhbnHZIJzJxNEiKZRk4Z-6jMlfwSxLkBVwC6hB1FZbvg/s1600/2016-11-28_09.04.24%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjU4n8uH3OtkhaUyCc_1XGxJPdgdXs1-CkM74I3uFDuRjtyq2zWkaSfxN2CSoxtCxnh79f5s-gk3eSDPH9UxHjlHj8o7dhbnHZIJzJxNEiKZRk4Z-6jMlfwSxLkBVwC6hB1FZbvg/s320/2016-11-28_09.04.24%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jo looks back down the valley </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMUmS8p94TugYgwZARGadFVY_Iyc0AWmkPn8P9z7YkFzea1CWt3QXcjfQQZaMllKKknREFiY44sptvcuWhe6hIsuCgmANrkOE9uPSMYUkaDYI1e5auBq6IOgcfqdfhvehGgtJ-g/s1600/2016-11-28_09.04.17%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMUmS8p94TugYgwZARGadFVY_Iyc0AWmkPn8P9z7YkFzea1CWt3QXcjfQQZaMllKKknREFiY44sptvcuWhe6hIsuCgmANrkOE9uPSMYUkaDYI1e5auBq6IOgcfqdfhvehGgtJ-g/s320/2016-11-28_09.04.17%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fault in the bedrock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3G0wwwF47Y5MLdKYpJOKDPU7Po-6dcZypga7Exu5iMlOg6AhZNNaVjRiVdNWOQNbtOQ6nOvdO_8_qEF9-NYF1K_cDZAZ1HjIP-qAgBDfTfpDswkTPsO-G5pa19N-gD89IKwjqg/s1600/2016-11-28_09.33.11%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3G0wwwF47Y5MLdKYpJOKDPU7Po-6dcZypga7Exu5iMlOg6AhZNNaVjRiVdNWOQNbtOQ6nOvdO_8_qEF9-NYF1K_cDZAZ1HjIP-qAgBDfTfpDswkTPsO-G5pa19N-gD89IKwjqg/s320/2016-11-28_09.33.11%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterfall in the forest </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87wd_0uKicA9IiADAr0g41SVsVcmrn-NU6-61WqKxCgCPNUtbMda7G60Wv-YAtTq-ykEgRnsjusFc7L_f4NwHpSd4EFUZ9qaXG8UN0zcsdEX3nWwwcU2yJx6Y9vaGBm6-SwAgXg/s1600/2016-11-28_09.27.55%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87wd_0uKicA9IiADAr0g41SVsVcmrn-NU6-61WqKxCgCPNUtbMda7G60Wv-YAtTq-ykEgRnsjusFc7L_f4NwHpSd4EFUZ9qaXG8UN0zcsdEX3nWwwcU2yJx6Y9vaGBm6-SwAgXg/s320/2016-11-28_09.27.55%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge across helps to keep feet dry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1EkGQvtEi0mGkY2CI7ElhMtdQ8Iq6wZ2eWlkoUbocYETT3fLJpaDiPTGgp-hNlLoobUUx_C9P_UcGpirF8OqUTaVOiHSIi6pCtnYwrQJC9HjkN9N0uwarR_ZQx_K5NJ73KKBsQ/s1600/2016-11-28_09.27.20%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1EkGQvtEi0mGkY2CI7ElhMtdQ8Iq6wZ2eWlkoUbocYETT3fLJpaDiPTGgp-hNlLoobUUx_C9P_UcGpirF8OqUTaVOiHSIi6pCtnYwrQJC9HjkN9N0uwarR_ZQx_K5NJ73KKBsQ/s320/2016-11-28_09.27.20%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tributary of the Wahio river</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHd84x4Mi27ccWHxs_PSZ4POVeePUeR0UtMFpKW9wB2zmfOjEQHWmOw42fuLTXY6XSIJt853uyS2yBoEVCYpZKCrcvSBslem94xFumuY9W2fzcU5gkF2mVyx6G9U0ok1rOnGbD3g/s1600/2016-11-28_09.27.01%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHd84x4Mi27ccWHxs_PSZ4POVeePUeR0UtMFpKW9wB2zmfOjEQHWmOw42fuLTXY6XSIJt853uyS2yBoEVCYpZKCrcvSBslem94xFumuY9W2fzcU5gkF2mVyx6G9U0ok1rOnGbD3g/s320/2016-11-28_09.27.01%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trident Falls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJoqACyjRqJzkJ6S8hSvS5Ik40zHVXZfY3IXicNfaGN51IoYozSpa5tQSxJIxhrWXp-dKbmVN6UmpHkKSUJxfPR7rDctlfEKY3TUn5cNzm6y-cFvXSAFOuW4dh4Bm1Jn7rL5Hgg/s1600/2016-11-28_09.22.41%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJoqACyjRqJzkJ6S8hSvS5Ik40zHVXZfY3IXicNfaGN51IoYozSpa5tQSxJIxhrWXp-dKbmVN6UmpHkKSUJxfPR7rDctlfEKY3TUn5cNzm6y-cFvXSAFOuW4dh4Bm1Jn7rL5Hgg/s320/2016-11-28_09.22.41%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moss covered rocks of the 'once was riverbed'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpefwrppAkgfXQIdAEb0J5RINvWQGp8LPfm8jv4mxE_AQiKsmi6Dec3i3w2yfmxt_IGMwB_TDyonQp-4KEsQF6eY_UCKj_VTG_DBTBlhdauZW3H9X_wnpO7oHWNH_adTIQH18DA/s1600/2016-11-28_09.21.15%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpefwrppAkgfXQIdAEb0J5RINvWQGp8LPfm8jv4mxE_AQiKsmi6Dec3i3w2yfmxt_IGMwB_TDyonQp-4KEsQF6eY_UCKj_VTG_DBTBlhdauZW3H9X_wnpO7oHWNH_adTIQH18DA/s320/2016-11-28_09.21.15%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trail is easily accessible for all</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzQZslqnPOl8sWYJiDYywTMmbEKZImaOWF3kCXdmeeIuCyh8gc6wgbkojO0HiLe5IB95YR58nCHJ9v_tTI3FyF1P9hq39Q6Ejx-Vs4KRYF7c9ab0TjRkIh-BHEo-PhNt7cF-X1w/s1600/2016-11-28_09.12.08%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzQZslqnPOl8sWYJiDYywTMmbEKZImaOWF3kCXdmeeIuCyh8gc6wgbkojO0HiLe5IB95YR58nCHJ9v_tTI3FyF1P9hq39Q6Ejx-Vs4KRYF7c9ab0TjRkIh-BHEo-PhNt7cF-X1w/s320/2016-11-28_09.12.08%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting closer to the glacier face</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgZBThmGa-XAcLttObGCw-QYSC-14nwII6AzU01vHL1SenTGaVU5QSOQcHfStsUzj6z7vtzyJHFzwIffQSBnSV90G0kgZKfwq59_4AXERQg4_QWoUsaT43eq_CQPIQA_Hn4YnRw/s1600/2016-11-28_09.01.36%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgZBThmGa-XAcLttObGCw-QYSC-14nwII6AzU01vHL1SenTGaVU5QSOQcHfStsUzj6z7vtzyJHFzwIffQSBnSV90G0kgZKfwq59_4AXERQg4_QWoUsaT43eq_CQPIQA_Hn4YnRw/s320/2016-11-28_09.01.36%255B1%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The viewpoint - so worth the walk to view this!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-6173173398879828992016-12-12T18:14:00.004+13:002017-01-09T18:37:03.011+13:00Another day in Franz Josef <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuamH6yWwaCncZ9_exc8p0LmwhDYt3PHbHpBOAPu5OstF34-lMjUfP6Y2t5FiaVtZI9KWX3QkkN0N0jYYkLOviHrFYtHiooGtboCwiqiMvMkyfnyTy2wHAJfhqZO1oTwAelCcBQ/s1600/2016-11-28_09.33.26%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjuamH6yWwaCncZ9_exc8p0LmwhDYt3PHbHpBOAPu5OstF34-lMjUfP6Y2t5FiaVtZI9KWX3QkkN0N0jYYkLOviHrFYtHiooGtboCwiqiMvMkyfnyTy2wHAJfhqZO1oTwAelCcBQ/s200/2016-11-28_09.33.26%255B1%255D.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi653nuEz4V6xKAguJFDqopJYiF7s76Eqjd23rYjsAtIt6ivvQUpIJitqWyovOaqyT3pb7__SHRW1cJ0LeYVXTAiAcCaTAqyzBpWbCTk3cVzkE1KrOhFUb26U_4HYltHckwLB6VQQ/s1600/2016-11-28+09.01.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi653nuEz4V6xKAguJFDqopJYiF7s76Eqjd23rYjsAtIt6ivvQUpIJitqWyovOaqyT3pb7__SHRW1cJ0LeYVXTAiAcCaTAqyzBpWbCTk3cVzkE1KrOhFUb26U_4HYltHckwLB6VQQ/s200/2016-11-28+09.01.36.jpg" width="200" /></a>Franz Josef Glacier is steep and narrow, shaped like a funnel.<br />
<br />
For those taking a walk to the face of the glacier it is an impressive environment of <br />
caves, seracs and crevasses.<br />
<br />
The glacier ice moves down by sliding over rock and is lubricated by the water flowing beneath the glacier.<br />
<br />
The ice closer to the surface splits and cracks forming crevasses to depths of 20-30mJulie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-63221254327414535212016-11-09T17:58:00.002+13:002016-11-09T18:00:53.480+13:00Blackbird Chicks <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #7d7d7d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #595959;">Today we found this nest close to where we were working in the garden.</span><span style="color: #595959;"> The robust nest is made of twigs, grass, roots and moss, fortified with mud and roughly lined with grass and leaf skeletons. The female incubates for 13–14 days and both parents feed the chicks which fledge at 13–15 days. OK blackbirds are common as, but it's a rare sight and fascinating to be able to spy on bird life as young as this. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHKAKgHkYKlpqLpBKUrifyNj9QRlWiPK_xluLHoSZ6VSQM3HbDi6KCG3FSIiUFom4t5okAzIMYNJX4TBSorcflbJ09wGR0VB2fVOFUhYrKzrxtdbeqxU-Qj91Uz2hOHYR7-0IVg/s1600/P1050161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHKAKgHkYKlpqLpBKUrifyNj9QRlWiPK_xluLHoSZ6VSQM3HbDi6KCG3FSIiUFom4t5okAzIMYNJX4TBSorcflbJ09wGR0VB2fVOFUhYrKzrxtdbeqxU-Qj91Uz2hOHYR7-0IVg/s400/P1050161.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #7d7d7d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #595959; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Blackbirds feed mainly on the ground and eat insects, spiders and a wide variety of fruits from both native podocarps and shrubs and introduced shrubs and weeds. They can cause damage to orchards and spread weed seeds into native forests and crops, but they also help to disperse the seeds of fleshy–fruited understorey plants in native forests.</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #7d7d7d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #595959; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Learn more about blackbirds by visiting <a href="http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/?q=node/593" style="color: #8cc642; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">New Zealand Birds Online</a>.</span></div>
Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-13454284134157970552016-10-11T17:30:00.002+13:002016-10-11T17:51:04.560+13:00 Hidden Trails of the Glacier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyETuyTXWN00GyamAFifCUD1hrGf-37ozsAVLquh2rV6t798PpJfFAHbLIyxBo2cnhP_HY6xFpQ8nM' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A few days ago we were early birds and we did catch the worm with some of the clearest scenes we've seen yet of the great divide mountains with Aoraki, Mount Cook our highest mountain in all its glory.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Read the article we wrote for 100% Pure New Zealand, our official travel NZ website about this magic hidden trail. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.newzealand.com/int/article/hidden-trails-of-the-glacier-region/">http://www.newzealand.com/int/article/hidden-trails-of-the-glacier-region/</a><br />
<br />
<br />Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0Three Mile Lagoon, West Coast 7886, New Zealand-43.2460181 170.13308849999999-43.2575846 170.11291849999998 -43.2344516 170.1532585tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-34309288662337799292016-09-22T18:07:00.000+12:002016-09-23T09:42:40.003+12:00Early Tourism at Franz Josef Glacier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZGfIOL0GFKACnGb2OKoOCs9DCx_pKs8201cmPuuRvUoiHoZdAGhk-R2UzK3BUOId4mTtZVnzp470VmPIZzHitJ3xyqUWyvpQV3thmx5bDzutsvjMdRYZbUxfUYLququrici6Tg/s1600/rata+blossom+Franz+Josef+Glacier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZGfIOL0GFKACnGb2OKoOCs9DCx_pKs8201cmPuuRvUoiHoZdAGhk-R2UzK3BUOId4mTtZVnzp470VmPIZzHitJ3xyqUWyvpQV3thmx5bDzutsvjMdRYZbUxfUYLququrici6Tg/s320/rata+blossom+Franz+Josef+Glacier.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
<br />
I had been scanning mums photos when I came across these lovely black and white photos of her guided trip across the glacier.<br />
I am not quite sure of the date of her trip but I am guessing it would have been sometime around 1950-1955.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
There is a great site about our areas history.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/21153/west-coast-climbers">West Coast climbers</a></div>
<br />
<br />
The national library records online turned up these tourism posters. The sprig of rata is from the tree that blooms in our temperate forest that surround the glacier.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivY5Aa2CX7-x4shWULXEUWjFITgIWhIHmmpNxw9bBJgyUqPeO33rMaZAOTgcZ3wfYdRcZa5uXimZwMRXaq27DdVzOEgbRseIGv7aVb7gjKpeMYWUv_eu0Oox3XPo6E9c7QZvMhXQ/s1600/Ice+cave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivY5Aa2CX7-x4shWULXEUWjFITgIWhIHmmpNxw9bBJgyUqPeO33rMaZAOTgcZ3wfYdRcZa5uXimZwMRXaq27DdVzOEgbRseIGv7aVb7gjKpeMYWUv_eu0Oox3XPo6E9c7QZvMhXQ/s320/Ice+cave.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mum facing an ice cave</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background: rgb(248 , 248 , 248); border: 0px; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: "proximanova" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 10px; padding: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;"><br /></span><span style="background: rgb(248 , 248 , 248); border: 0px; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: "proximanova" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 10px; padding: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;">King, Marcus, 1891-1983. King, Marcus, 1891-1983 :Rata blossom, Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand. [ca 1955]. Ref: Eph-E-TOURISM-1955-02. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. <a href="http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23150912" style="color: #222222;">http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23150912</a></span><br />
<div>
<span style="background: rgb(248 , 248 , 248); border: 0px; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: "proximanova" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 10px; padding: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;">Lovell-Smith, Edgar McLeod, 1875-1950. Lovell-Smith, Edgar McLeod, 1875-1950 :Franz Josef Glacier New Zealand / E M Lovell-Smith, 1932. Full information from the High Commissioner for New Zealand ... New Zealand Trade and Tourist Commissioner and Government Agent ... and all travel agents Coulls Somerville Wilkie Ltd, Ch'ch, des et lith. Issued by the Publicity Branch, NZ Railways. 1932.. Ref: Eph-E-TOURISM-Franz-1932-01. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. <a href="http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23170163" style="color: #222222;">http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23170163</a></span></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPbkRDY8pdyfOdxCNr_JTt3R20onhEvm75_f8hnZysuYH_DhX4YsLnNnWr6YU7MJoEpEKcvqRziVsWT6FfIfDPnW3jMP8K2-w99rHMusMy0DCN1a0I6O7hRc5ANtPyalHBkyskQ/s1600/Franz+G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLPbkRDY8pdyfOdxCNr_JTt3R20onhEvm75_f8hnZysuYH_DhX4YsLnNnWr6YU7MJoEpEKcvqRziVsWT6FfIfDPnW3jMP8K2-w99rHMusMy0DCN1a0I6O7hRc5ANtPyalHBkyskQ/s320/Franz+G.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mum (3rd in line) and her friend on the glacier </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAmxwt9eNkDVR5b5aj3S0XCjfwOg8bfjET7-cxdph7fYIh0tliJngSGES8UkQVQH36YwJLDq1fC0XhGrWZugboeRK3JqcE2P5CkroOomudrUI7KZDilMG186oVXAb9zMf0MozRA/s1600/Franz+Josef+Glacier+19502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAmxwt9eNkDVR5b5aj3S0XCjfwOg8bfjET7-cxdph7fYIh0tliJngSGES8UkQVQH36YwJLDq1fC0XhGrWZugboeRK3JqcE2P5CkroOomudrUI7KZDilMG186oVXAb9zMf0MozRA/s320/Franz+Josef+Glacier+19502.jpg" width="205" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "proximanova" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The poster shows a view of the Franz Josef Glacier with the road and hotel in the foreground. Various places are labelled and the altitude given: Minarets (10,050 feet), Grahams Saddle (8,800 feet), Almer Hut (5,500 feet), Defiance Hut (2,700 feet), the hotel (350 feet, Callery Gorge and Alec's Knob</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "proximanova" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. Two suspension bridges over the river are shown.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "proximanova" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></div>
Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0Franz Josef Glacier 7886, New Zealand-43.3873293 170.18328840000004-43.479681299999996 170.02192690000004 -43.2949773 170.34464990000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-85729390758915754142016-08-29T15:01:00.000+12:002016-09-22T17:07:49.410+12:00A Trot up the Fox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmPk8GrlZaAyxdkSG-hLf0iDA1uxQOoE3C2YOtctqhs2_zrl8k_GLTKKdrFS_aMVgxu6dVFOcvJqaRev-Ta97l8Yz47fFcjVSnUheNrQYDpCnunrHbDlEx6HtD3Iy2qOIpjAyTg/s1600/20160828_101621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmPk8GrlZaAyxdkSG-hLf0iDA1uxQOoE3C2YOtctqhs2_zrl8k_GLTKKdrFS_aMVgxu6dVFOcvJqaRev-Ta97l8Yz47fFcjVSnUheNrQYDpCnunrHbDlEx6HtD3Iy2qOIpjAyTg/s320/20160828_101621.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPeqiEUq-S58TITdXrQNRtRioDfovLXlzDVGoVee8mZMMgGKXvEp6TsrHd7FstN8llwUb8aq5D24cO72c5FIfW2a9SPJMo7H6fyXwiKjomGiVD0okxDme-tZlMOU3Urp78c1eBw/s1600/20160828_101421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPeqiEUq-S58TITdXrQNRtRioDfovLXlzDVGoVee8mZMMgGKXvEp6TsrHd7FstN8llwUb8aq5D24cO72c5FIfW2a9SPJMo7H6fyXwiKjomGiVD0okxDme-tZlMOU3Urp78c1eBw/s320/20160828_101421.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfBwkiyN_IuEPeftIj2k_aKpovgfWYl9BjwOwCBroe2vU-ejaY8grZd74V8AAejzS7fsmSPlAX3Jtf-bjyJ5qRgstNc6X_1VEI8G4xRS4kUA3ZkUFY1Z94VQOFh7qiXV_uqScdQ/s1600/20160828_101515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfBwkiyN_IuEPeftIj2k_aKpovgfWYl9BjwOwCBroe2vU-ejaY8grZd74V8AAejzS7fsmSPlAX3Jtf-bjyJ5qRgstNc6X_1VEI8G4xRS4kUA3ZkUFY1Z94VQOFh7qiXV_uqScdQ/s320/20160828_101515.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; line-height: 20px;">This photo shows an incredibly life like cut out of a DOC ranger (a guy Jo use to work with!) He is indicating not to go any further as r</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; line-height: 20px;">iver levels can change rapidly, particularly during and after heavy rain and the entire river bed can become completely covered with flood water.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; line-height: 20px;"> Over the years, people have ignored the signs to their peril. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #575757;">Ice collapse and rock fall can occur at any time at the terminal face of the glacier, a</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; font-family: inherit;"> cold down-draft off the glacier is normal in the valley, and rainstorms occasionally catch visitors (and the odd local!) by surprise. It's always a good idea to take an extra layer and a raincoat even if you don't think you will need it.</span></div>
Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0Fox Glacier 7886, New Zealand-43.4644799 170.0175878-43.6488589 169.6948643 -43.2801009 170.3403113tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-50039141242989692792016-02-26T16:32:00.000+13:002016-08-29T14:06:46.274+12:00 'Flower of the Dawn' Lake Mapourika, Westland National Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSN17t3jIDiMyD_WFvDn3tVBHeFGgXJQKxZuIO5zcTwl40IeTlrQQkZRQVukKGnr0Zdh77HKtH9vpZdmWglhUVhLkcFH2vMjWBB5TZ-w68J496Ats32npO5jIh0Un8lxeAZkAMUg/s1600/Studio_20150412_115645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSN17t3jIDiMyD_WFvDn3tVBHeFGgXJQKxZuIO5zcTwl40IeTlrQQkZRQVukKGnr0Zdh77HKtH9vpZdmWglhUVhLkcFH2vMjWBB5TZ-w68J496Ats32npO5jIh0Un8lxeAZkAMUg/s400/Studio_20150412_115645.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #434343; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
A few kilometres from our place, Lake Mapourika is my haunt. Every day, no matter the weather, I bike and swim there. Because the water is the colour of tea from the tannins from the dense bush around the lake, it gets lovely and warm.<br />
<br />
14,000 years ago this kettle lake was formed when a large block of ice was left behind by the retreating Franz Josef Glacier.<br />
<br />
Our birders are in for a treat because they may get to see the rare crested grebe, scaup, grey duck, mallard duck, black swan, white-throated shag, white-faced heron, kingfisher, kereru, tui, bellbird, tomtit, grey warbler, brown creeper, silvereye, bellbird and robin.</div>
Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0Lake Mapourika, West Coast 7886, New Zealand-43.3180103 170.20424360000004-43.364224799999995 170.12356260000004 -43.2717958 170.28492460000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-13196088295231071572016-02-02T15:23:00.000+13:002016-02-26T17:00:33.173+13:00Canavans Walk<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbB-C2nLyqTuzyK7FSd7AvbqOJN6uEwmh3T2t2hVcgstITlTVQClXBe47teCCfnElmKnBS8jCYujogac8zGVZSl9FnRmEw-i-ZRlXohY26Z4pmw4TF4jSdnXokBK2G6K91pAiN6Q/s1600/20160131_120656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbB-C2nLyqTuzyK7FSd7AvbqOJN6uEwmh3T2t2hVcgstITlTVQClXBe47teCCfnElmKnBS8jCYujogac8zGVZSl9FnRmEw-i-ZRlXohY26Z4pmw4TF4jSdnXokBK2G6K91pAiN6Q/s320/20160131_120656.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Walking along the stopbank to get to Canavans</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An oldy but a goodie, one of our favourite walks is Canavans Knob, a short distance from Franz Josef. We wander up through the forest to enjoy a grove of rata </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; line-height: 20px;">trees at the top of the granite outcrop, the sea and river to one side, and up the Waiho River to the glacier and Southern Alps</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; line-height: 20px;"> </span><em style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #575757; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kā Tiritiri o te Moana</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #575757; line-height: 20px;">from the seat at the top. </span></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #575757; font-family: ClearSans, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RI49PGckaifaeBnjyBaA5awXdHokZGqHXRIzkwXOPZyGnQf0Xaq2H9aJA7s0UL7gXLHHGDaNTBIDOwAPeQvUM407f4t-Wdhgv9vj4aSm7zpTGzsR3Eo5SxWpy-LQoij2n7ishA/s1600/20160131_115147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RI49PGckaifaeBnjyBaA5awXdHokZGqHXRIzkwXOPZyGnQf0Xaq2H9aJA7s0UL7gXLHHGDaNTBIDOwAPeQvUM407f4t-Wdhgv9vj4aSm7zpTGzsR3Eo5SxWpy-LQoij2n7ishA/s200/20160131_115147.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">View from the top</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-28702468110537295932015-10-25T20:52:00.001+13:002016-02-26T17:02:08.876+13:00Melodious Wild Music in our Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6KYVxiQDHWa74joqKFp_Md4lkPeZ781MBkxXh_r1xUWFu0WHz35oEizkWVUmyX_s5YStExWSVSfDGjDTypXzbiV28m1LXB6YSnfrAcK94Nr1pvARHc1JoyDnRwr33lyuxiMDsA/s1600/20150924_103508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6KYVxiQDHWa74joqKFp_Md4lkPeZ781MBkxXh_r1xUWFu0WHz35oEizkWVUmyX_s5YStExWSVSfDGjDTypXzbiV28m1LXB6YSnfrAcK94Nr1pvARHc1JoyDnRwr33lyuxiMDsA/s400/20150924_103508.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Bellbird have come to our garden to feast on the fushia flowers, heralding the arrival of spring.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">The bellbird was undoubtedly the chief performer in the chorus described by Joseph Banks when Captain Cook entered Queen Charlotte Sound during the first voyage of discovery. </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="background-color: white;">"I was awakened by the singing of the birds ashore, from whence we are distant not a quarter of a mile. Their numbers were certainly very great. They seemed to almost strain their throats with emulation, and made perhaps the most melodious wild music I have ever heard, almost imitating small bells but with the most tunable silver imaginable."</span></i></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0Franz Josef Glacier 7886, New Zealand-43.3873293 170.18328840000004-43.479681299999996 170.02192690000004 -43.2949773 170.34464990000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-83465817157304042782015-08-18T12:29:00.000+12:002016-02-26T17:02:36.276+13:00Heaphy Track, winter wonderland<span style="background-color: white; color: #5d6169; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">Having secured a 'grab a fare' cheap seat in the plane from Christchurch to Hokitika weeks beforehand, getting the right weather for a tramp was in the lap of the gods. Unbelievble but sometimes you get lucky! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #5d6169; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #5d6169; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">We have both been on the Heaphy Track, when Jo was carrying out possum control, but that was many years ago and we wanted to return. DOC have spent 2 million on beautiful huts, tracks and bridges. The walk is located in </span><a href="http://www.southernwilderness.com/heaphy-track-map" style="background-color: white; color: #006691; font-family: arial, verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-stretch: normal; outline: none;" title="Heaphy Track – Map">Kahurangi National Park</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #5d6169; font-family: "arial" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> at the north-west corner of the South Island. A loose translation for Kahurangi is: ”treasured possession” and with its massive rivers, beech forest, northern rata with nikau palms, and alpine shrubs in the Gouland Downs.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.greatwalks.co.nz/heaphy-track?gclid=CjwKEAjwjMauBRDH-bOCo56b13wSJABA2-HvvfNJvjZNpmFzL8fEhwQdRs6Hj7w2m4xJ8wm2sLSHSBoCqZTw_wcB" target="_blank">A Great Walk, The Heaphy Track</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAj5WXHvT2HAjpIDMyz0P-MmzavQYuJXgakmayaPqJs5aVQJFyUTiERFFjG7JFdWN_7MPJ7shhAzq-BKRilcdTSpyx3NmdaSq0XYg9X4nldrWtziy7DHixiRF0fFdf5QN4qGg5Dw/s1600/2015-08-11+09.21.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAj5WXHvT2HAjpIDMyz0P-MmzavQYuJXgakmayaPqJs5aVQJFyUTiERFFjG7JFdWN_7MPJ7shhAzq-BKRilcdTSpyx3NmdaSq0XYg9X4nldrWtziy7DHixiRF0fFdf5QN4qGg5Dw/s320/2015-08-11+09.21.11.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgstgilGNh60OfpWjXIiTRmrm8EIL5J-UNIpJhMKVXFokpEJ3j1egjmo_7UyjVUlLAlkbxUtoNKZsHKvIeDmPa-CiojJZ_VJdWk1A25aUud-2VU3IqAyK1Xgk4VZr3yMovZ-GJQ/s1600/2015-08-11+09.20.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgstgilGNh60OfpWjXIiTRmrm8EIL5J-UNIpJhMKVXFokpEJ3j1egjmo_7UyjVUlLAlkbxUtoNKZsHKvIeDmPa-CiojJZ_VJdWk1A25aUud-2VU3IqAyK1Xgk4VZr3yMovZ-GJQ/s320/2015-08-11+09.20.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CIG17nw0PvXVSvksuoy7YyODWD06LXAodU93LzmL74XAbl7F91_6lX7CYSTXtS6C3wJKTKwKEiWuUf1YAJRAfAWvbMCcZXGntnSNkvRfL_cAYC7ZaPWDlIz0PpwH5Mu67DLE5g/s1600/2015-08-11+09.17.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CIG17nw0PvXVSvksuoy7YyODWD06LXAodU93LzmL74XAbl7F91_6lX7CYSTXtS6C3wJKTKwKEiWuUf1YAJRAfAWvbMCcZXGntnSNkvRfL_cAYC7ZaPWDlIz0PpwH5Mu67DLE5g/s320/2015-08-11+09.17.39.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0Heaphy Track, Kahurangi National Park 7073, New Zealand-40.8863926 172.30277460000002-41.2699901 171.65732760000003 -40.5027951 172.9482216tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31831961.post-58051830578127263212015-05-24T16:20:00.001+12:002016-02-02T15:49:48.103+13:00Travels to Laos and Sri Lanka<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiY-kEcW5L_ExlbthHBB33XrGMiBboIS_oSx4wTjMsr5-6VcIRaRw8LIEqUyEcTH58-nwyclEv3Cf25yYwD-In55vHSGcS2Ax-cxb4w4lHltpf2kU4Ia3GGm0scygbpGBm0_cag/s1600/2015-05-05+07.04.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiY-kEcW5L_ExlbthHBB33XrGMiBboIS_oSx4wTjMsr5-6VcIRaRw8LIEqUyEcTH58-nwyclEv3Cf25yYwD-In55vHSGcS2Ax-cxb4w4lHltpf2kU4Ia3GGm0scygbpGBm0_cag/s320/2015-05-05+07.04.30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Below is a link to our latest travel blog. We were at mums place on Saturday, due to fly out to Nepal when we watched the news unfolding about the earthquake in Nepal. We hastily put together some new plans all the time feeling great relief we weren't amidst the devastation as well as great sadness for the Nepalese.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://jstrek.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Travels in Asia follow this link to our new blog J' s trek </a></div>
</div>
Julie Wolbershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04751787671309656691noreply@blogger.com0