Another Waiheke Tramping Day

We took a 3 hour walk through a trail that was new to us--we have several more to cover.

Missing from this photo essay is the fern forest section that was too late and dark to shoot.

We started



at this Chook-ateria, where we parked the car, and then spent the next 3 hours on foot.

(Farther along is a sign: Control your dogs in this area. The larger the rooster the larger the mess!)

Although the trail follows some roads,



they had good views.



(Pardon my cheesy panoramas.)



At the wetland preserve--the entrance was farther down the trail, we'll go back for a visit.





At 1/2 the loop done, the best bays are still ahead of us.



With this shot, I wanted to capture the view the folks who live in the blue house have every day. It looks like living quarters are in the back, facing the bay, and the front is an olive oil and alpaca clothing sales office. What a bay to see every morning at breakfast, eh?



The trail's 2nd half takes us through several bays, leading up to a large bay.



No, we're not at the large bay yet.



Getting closer.



Found one jellyfish as big as my head. When we flipped over a rock, a handful of tiny crabs would scramble for new cover.



The big bay.

After this, we had an overland tramp back to the car.

One thing that still surprises us is the grade for the trails. Few have switchbacks--why don't they wash away?--and when you climb or descend, you are changing altitude fast. Thank goodness we're near sea level. When the trail has switchbacks, the hillside is steep indeed.

Back to work--what will next weekend bring?