8-12 November 2007

From the Psychotic to the Sublime

The Lake Waikaremoana Track

Day 2, Page 4

Punga is increasingly a feature as we descend - great glades of it in some cases.

There's a slight conflict along here. After yesterday I have been revelling in the track conditions and striding along for all I'm worth but we're in territory that really does warrant slowing down and taking our time.

There's always the assistance provided by beech roots when it comes to slowing down, but I've gone off those lately.

I reckon this is close to as good as it gets - though day 4 will revise this estimate some.

This little fellow is present throughout the Waitakeres, but down here it becomes a major feature.

I slow down even more to grab the new fronds unfurling

Pungas to left of us, pungas to right of us....

We continue, still slightly downhill, and you've no idea the difference that makes as well.

Another of those living scupltures I'm gradually acquiring a small collection of.

Back to some more intensive downhill. I lengthen the sticks a notch or two.

We're coming down the side of quite a deep streambed.

with just an occasional reminder not to take things for granted.

Up ahead of us the sky is alive with sunlight and the leaves a wonderful light-infused green.

Down below at the side of the track is a nursery of small plants. Not much wonder an abandoned track disappears in short order. For all our bulldozers and such we are of much less consequence in the long run than an average to middling storm. The damage is healed, sealed and overtaken in a year or so.

At least the deep tracks through here have a decent breadth to them.

And here's a wineberry (makomako or Aristotelia). I reckon the Maori name suits those serrations really well. This is the first one I've seen for a long while in this bush.

From behind I get a call from Miranda who has spotted something I've missed, a magnificent striped worm, about 150mm long.