19 June 2008

The Via Innominata

Kaueranga Valley, Thames

page 2

I stop to change batteries, and lose a few metres

We reach a junction, and again, instead of a track name on the sign, it simply indicates the destination.

We swing round to the left and begin heading downhill.

It's still pleasant walking, and the rich variety of small plants on the clay banks is well worth taking in.

And now we reach the real feature of this track. From here to the end we are seldom further than 2 - 3 metres from a set of steps. Now, I've never seen a set of steps in DoC territory that can be comfortably walked for any distance. DoC does not have good step designers on the whole. Enthusiastic, yes, as is the case here, but that's as far as I am prepared to go. They could learn much from the ARC in the Waitakeres.

Down and around....

One of the nice things about steepish descents is that they often provide very attractive windows out through a frame of light bush.

Here's a bit of a roller coaster....

All I can say is that it is probably a good deal more manageable than what was here before.

Scruffy, as we get a little lower. Still, no steps for a few metres.

Here we go again. "

Are you coming? I'm getting hungry...."

Wheeeeeee.......

Now, lean into the bend...

and one last swerve before we reach the road

Lunchtime!