TRIP TO NEW ZEALAND

[Anthony Darby]

I suspect Mt. Burns would be a good place to spot the (introduced) Haggis?

[Lesley Cox]

Only on the lower slopes Anthony, which are heavily bush (forest) clad.

Did you enjoy Wednesday's cricket? 682 runs in one day has to be good.

[Anthony Darby]

Only on the lower slopes Anthony, which are heavily bush (forest) clad.

Did you enjoy Wednesday's cricket? 682 runs in one day has to be good.

Not bad, but you'd think after putting up a score like that they'd bowl better!?

[Lesley Cox]

Well that applies to both teams of course and I think the English did bowl better over all but it was - always is - a batter's wicket in Napier and with quite short boundries.....

[Ian Y]

So everything I have shown so far was on my first day on Mount Burns. The next day was very wet and cold with the clouds sitting on the ground so we decided that it was not worth attempting any field trips.
Boy was I glad as my knees had taken some pounding on the long descent from the summit of Mnt. Burns and were in need of a rest.
We spent a very enjoyable day firstly over a long breakfast then an even longer lunch discussing all the problems of the world.
Our subjects ranged from the finer points of DNA and Phylogeny to world politics and we had a lot of laughs.
We eventually made our way up to the Hut at the start of the Nevis Valley road where we were to spend the night.
It was cold very windy and wet and while the hut provided some shelter it was still cold inside.  I lit a fire in a somewhat dilapidated old stove half expecting to smoke us out as there were holes everywhere in the stove and the lum - however the strong wing outside drew most of the smoke out and we were soon all cosy inside and continued on our discussions.
Next morning the weather had changed and it was a fine day.
There was a small cludgie separate from the hut which, what can I say, was not the most fresh smelling place I have been in.
Dave found a way to clear the air and enjoy the view!!
We started off early on the rough track through the Nevis Valley that would take us through almost 30 fords.

[Ian Y]

I forget how far we travelled through the Nevis valley but it was quite some distance.

All along the valley there were masses of Aciphylla aurea.

It took us through an old gold mining area and the remains of some of the workings could still be seen in the landscape as well as some of the ruins.

We kept stopping to look at the matt forming raoulias and there was much discussion as to whether we were looking at one variable species or a number of species. I was interested to see that they favoured wet ground near the river and burns as well as at the road side.

[t00lie]

Ah --the Nevis 'Hilton' Ian---I remember it well.

Maybe a half star ranking at the very best and a cludgie as you call it that had a tantilizing aroma all of it's own.

 Earlier quote "You've a finely turned calf, there, Dave.... do you and Hilda trip the light fantastic?"

No Maggie i can't dance at all --two left feet .Ian will be able to confirm that to you for sure.Smile.

PS--Given up on trying to load the Google earth co-ordinates as promised previously as i'm ending up getting different co-ordinate figures when i go to save the details.??.

Cheers dave.

[Ian Y]

Ahh Dancing Dave, I almost forgot to say that Morris Dancing occupied much of our time in the Nevis Hilton - more of this later...........

Having driven down the Nevis Valley we then headed for The Old Man Range which sits high above the plain where they grow the pinot noir grapes for wine. It was very hot in the valley but a gale was blowing on the top. Luckily you can drive all the way up to a radio mast where we put on all the layers we have.
I was nearly blown away by the strength of the gale and all my three companions could do was shelter behind the obelisk laughing and taking pictures of me which have appeared in another NZ thread.

I was fascinated at who many of the rock outcrops looked like giant heads with faces.

Looking one way there is a magnificient view over the mountain ranges 6 and the other an equally impressive view over the valley of the grapes 7.

Taking photographs up there was extrememly difficult as it was almost impossible to hold the camera steady never mind the flowers blowing in the wind - despite my human shields' best efforts.

The tiny colonies of plants were well adapted to these conditions.

On the leaward edge I found Celmisia viscosa.

[Ian Y]

A few more plants from the very top of Old Man Range before we move down to the shelterd side of the slope.

Wind blasted gentian
 Shelter of the rock.jpg
 Craspedia lanata
 Craspedia lanata 2
 Myosotis pulvinaris. =Chionohebe thomsonii
 Myosotis pulvinaris  =Chionohebe thomsonii
Myosotis pulvinaris  =Chionohebe thomsonii
 Tight cushion       edit =  Phyllachne rubra               
 Raoulia hectori

[annew]

Awesome photos, Ian!

[hadacekf]

Ian,
I was fascinated of the Old Mann Range with the rock outcrops also. The wind was terrible. Super pics! Thanks

[Lesley Cox]

Wonderful pictures Ian. A great achievment to have plenty laughs discussing plant DNA and phylogeny and world politics.

Franz, who is the other old man - in the picture?

[David Lyttle]

Ian,

You must have seen too many plants in too short a time. Your Myosotis pulvinaris is Chionohebe thomsonii.
The tight cushion is Phyllachne rubra and the Raoulia on the Old Man Range is Raoulia hectori. I have a few more identification corrections for you but they can wait. However dont feel bad about it. There are few of us who are not caught out from time to time. I was on the Blue Mountains today. Both Celmisia prorepens and Celmisa densiflora are present there and are all mixed up. Last time we were there Dave T and John argued which was what until we got off the mountain.

There were two main species of Raoulia in the Nevis Valley, Raoulia tenuicaulis in the wetter sites in the streambeds and Raoulia australis on the dryer stony ground. Raoulia tenuicaulis is quite soft wheras Raoulia australis is a hard cushion.

[Ian Y]

David
How right you are - so many plants - so many mountains - so many people - so short a time- it was wonderful.
My memory card is full!!
I should spend more time checking the names before I post but that will take me months - so I will just rely on you to keep me correct.

[Maggi Young]

I should spend more time checking the names before I post but that will take me months - so I will just rely on you to keep me correct.

Lazy devil! Just as well he has you local experts to fall back on!