8-12 November 2007

From the Psychotic to the Sublime

The Lake Waikaremoana Track

Day 3, Page 2 Waiopaoa to Marauiti

After a spell in which we saw very little of it, the bushman's friend, rangiora, is back with us

Somebody, somewhere in DoC has something very like a sense of humour. The name of the track concerned is

The morning light through the belt of trees along the lake edge is glorious.

We're back into open grass and more wet feet, at least until the dew has passed.

I think this is a Dicksonia, wheki-ponga, distinguished by a somewhat thicker, reddish trunk almost completely obscured by a blanket of dead leaves

Back into an open grassy area.

and another sturdy bridge.

A short patch of bush follwed by more grass.

and then we're back near the lake. Beside the track a snowberry, Gaultheria antipoda, is in bloom.

If you're watching the snowberry too hard you'll miss the boggy bit nearby.

Then we're back in the basic lakeside track mode, a thin belt of light scrubby and shrubby trees between the track and the lake, with open sky above.

That's fresh. Probably the safest place for deer is on the track. Nobody is allowed to shoot within 500m, I think, of a hut or walking track.

Now and again we get a look out at the lake without too much intervening foliage.

Onwards. I'm making good time, feeling good after yesterday.

Here's the other mingimingi, Cyathodes juniperina, the white-berried version. It also occurs in pink and red forms.

I'm still trying to identify this one. If you can help I would appreciate an email.

This is a wineberry, and growing in a situation such that it's normally soft paper-like leaves have become hardened and crisp

Just ahead of us is more grass, and we're back beside the lake again.