Cathedral Cove and on to Napier
The hike I alluded to in my last post was to a place called Cathedral Cove. It's a very popular and well-known hike, and while I usually I prefer trails that every other visitor hasn't already been on, this wasn't one to miss. Crystal clear blue water, lush vegetation, and striking rock formations... what more could a girl want? I had mentioned the walk to David, and even though he has lived in the area for years, he had never been, so we met up in the morning and went together.
That thar pointy rock in the distance is where we be hiking to!
It took about an hour to get there, and the last section descended about three dozen stairs and then opened up into a bay. I usually don't like people in my landscape pictures, but I liked this girl, who stood motionless, admiring the view, for a couple minutes.
The real attraction of the cove is the rock "cathedral", a tunnel right through the limsestone rock. These hardy trees were making the most of all the real estate on top of the rock.
Looking through the cathedral.
You weren't supposed to walk through the cathedral due to the risk of falling rocks, illustrated accurately in this sign (but based on the hundreds of footprints in the sand, no one paid it any heed, including me).
The view out the other side was worth risking my life!
David went to explore across the rocks.
He was kind of camera shy so I snuck this action shot, which I think turned out neat.
Looking back towards where we came from.
Recognize this shot?
These kayakers were exploring the bays and pulled up on the beach for lunch shortly after I took this.
David went for a swim while I started up the stairs, since I knew I would have to rest every ten or so due to my reduced lung capacity from The Plague, Version 2.0!
I finally got to the top and rested with this view.
I was feeling a bit sorry for myself because I was so out of breath, and then I met someone who inspired me. His life was a constant struggle as he constantly travelled over terrain most would faint at: he climbed mountains, descended valleys, and crossed rivers. What were small obstacles for others were great feats for him, and yet he never really seemed to get anywhere. Perhaps that is because he had no final destination, but he maintained that every step was a step in the right direction.
Can you see my new friend in this picture?
Let me zoom in a bit...
Hee hee! So cute. I watched him for a looong time, just inching his way across the variable terrain of my hand! I let him hitchhike for a long time -- I hope it was in the direction he wanted to go!
"Inch worm, inch worm
Measuring the marigolds
Could it be, stop and see
How beautiful they are...
I know you must be getting sick,
of wondering exactly where this leads you,
Why did it take so long,
Why did it take so long,
Why did it take so long,
Inchworm, inchworm,
Measuring the merrigold."
Moving on... another lovely view!
We got back and had ice cream at a cafe, who thinks the same way I do about business hours!
Then I hit the road and didn't stop until I reached my campsite. It was evening by the time I got there, and after setting up my tent, I explored the area, which had lots of attractive farmland views.
My campsite was in a nice forested area with some trails to explore.
In the morning, I went on a short one that started with another swing bridge.
Neat spiderweb.
I had to go through this 150m tunnel and was glad I had my headlamp with me, because it was pitch black in the middle!
I can see the liiiight!
From the other side, a parallel tunnel had water running through it. Ooh!
After that, I set out to cover some more k's, determined to make a dent in the distance to Masterton. The only stop I made was in the city of Tauranga, where I tried to find a rim for my spare tire, but was misinformed as to the availability of one. After getting lost finding that wrecker's, I had no patience to go to other places, so I bought a tire in a can so I'd at least I have some security, and carried on (I later found a rim in Masterton, and was able to trade it for my incorrect one, which was nice).
I went through Rotorua and on to Taupo, where it was drizzling. I considered staying there for the night, as it was 7pm, but I checked the weather and Napier was sunny, so I called a hostel and booked a room, and pushed on.
I pulled into a rest area to stretch, and was surprised to find this view of a massive waterfall in the distance! There had been no sign indicating that there was something like this to be seen right off the side of the road (you couldn't see it while driving).
It was still misty as I descended into this thickly forested valley.
Then, once climbing the grade on the other side, the sky suddenly cleared and a beautiful sunset started to make an appearance.
I took the rest of these shots in a "point and shoot" fashion, just holding the camera up and not composing the picture, but just hoping for the best... and I quite like them!
I was very tired when I got to Napier and was thankful that I had a twin room that I only had to share with one person, a nice Irish girl who I ended up walking around town with the next morning. And that's a story for the next entry. :)
That thar pointy rock in the distance is where we be hiking to!
It took about an hour to get there, and the last section descended about three dozen stairs and then opened up into a bay. I usually don't like people in my landscape pictures, but I liked this girl, who stood motionless, admiring the view, for a couple minutes.
The real attraction of the cove is the rock "cathedral", a tunnel right through the limsestone rock. These hardy trees were making the most of all the real estate on top of the rock.
Looking through the cathedral.
You weren't supposed to walk through the cathedral due to the risk of falling rocks, illustrated accurately in this sign (but based on the hundreds of footprints in the sand, no one paid it any heed, including me).
The view out the other side was worth risking my life!
David went to explore across the rocks.
He was kind of camera shy so I snuck this action shot, which I think turned out neat.
Looking back towards where we came from.
Recognize this shot?
These kayakers were exploring the bays and pulled up on the beach for lunch shortly after I took this.
David went for a swim while I started up the stairs, since I knew I would have to rest every ten or so due to my reduced lung capacity from The Plague, Version 2.0!
I finally got to the top and rested with this view.
I was feeling a bit sorry for myself because I was so out of breath, and then I met someone who inspired me. His life was a constant struggle as he constantly travelled over terrain most would faint at: he climbed mountains, descended valleys, and crossed rivers. What were small obstacles for others were great feats for him, and yet he never really seemed to get anywhere. Perhaps that is because he had no final destination, but he maintained that every step was a step in the right direction.
Can you see my new friend in this picture?
Let me zoom in a bit...
Hee hee! So cute. I watched him for a looong time, just inching his way across the variable terrain of my hand! I let him hitchhike for a long time -- I hope it was in the direction he wanted to go!
"Inch worm, inch worm
Measuring the marigolds
Could it be, stop and see
How beautiful they are...
I know you must be getting sick,
of wondering exactly where this leads you,
Why did it take so long,
Why did it take so long,
Why did it take so long,
Inchworm, inchworm,
Measuring the merrigold."
Moving on... another lovely view!
We got back and had ice cream at a cafe, who thinks the same way I do about business hours!
Then I hit the road and didn't stop until I reached my campsite. It was evening by the time I got there, and after setting up my tent, I explored the area, which had lots of attractive farmland views.
My campsite was in a nice forested area with some trails to explore.
In the morning, I went on a short one that started with another swing bridge.
Neat spiderweb.
I had to go through this 150m tunnel and was glad I had my headlamp with me, because it was pitch black in the middle!
I can see the liiiight!
From the other side, a parallel tunnel had water running through it. Ooh!
After that, I set out to cover some more k's, determined to make a dent in the distance to Masterton. The only stop I made was in the city of Tauranga, where I tried to find a rim for my spare tire, but was misinformed as to the availability of one. After getting lost finding that wrecker's, I had no patience to go to other places, so I bought a tire in a can so I'd at least I have some security, and carried on (I later found a rim in Masterton, and was able to trade it for my incorrect one, which was nice).
I went through Rotorua and on to Taupo, where it was drizzling. I considered staying there for the night, as it was 7pm, but I checked the weather and Napier was sunny, so I called a hostel and booked a room, and pushed on.
I pulled into a rest area to stretch, and was surprised to find this view of a massive waterfall in the distance! There had been no sign indicating that there was something like this to be seen right off the side of the road (you couldn't see it while driving).
It was still misty as I descended into this thickly forested valley.
Then, once climbing the grade on the other side, the sky suddenly cleared and a beautiful sunset started to make an appearance.
I took the rest of these shots in a "point and shoot" fashion, just holding the camera up and not composing the picture, but just hoping for the best... and I quite like them!
I was very tired when I got to Napier and was thankful that I had a twin room that I only had to share with one person, a nice Irish girl who I ended up walking around town with the next morning. And that's a story for the next entry. :)