21 October 2009

Wanganui Riverfront Whalkway

page 3

Up to the left is the Durie Tower, a local tourist must-see, which somehow, I forego the pleasure of.

Hang a left at the end of the bridge.

It is spring, and for those seeking wildflowers, the river bank has them in profusion.

Also featuring along here and elsewhere is the ngaio, the native tree which, according to Maori legend, is the tree that you see upon the moon.

Here you can see the completed riverbank reinforcing, begun after the 2004 floods, to limit further damage.

Also featuring as part of the planting here and further on is a particularly vicious palm tree.

Why you would even consider planting these so close to a footpath beggars belief.

Closeup the problem is clearer. Civic administrations with any sense have been systematically removing these from public places for some time.

But I'm getting ahead of myself again. Across the road is a nod in the direction of our Pacifika heritage. There's a story there, too, I'll be bound.

We carry on between the river and the road for a bit.

and reach an area where public concern has demanded expression.

Not even a please ....

We turn off into the park where the palm trees hug the path. We follow a ridge, which presumably is some kind of protection from the river for the park to our right.

Beside the path, karaka is in flower

and to our right a massively-trunked camellia

A little further along, an oak tree and a totara provide one example of cultural co-existence.

We continue along the ridge

past an exotic playground for children

and back to the river

where Old Yaller greets us.

Where do they dispose of all those plastic baggies full of doggy doos?

When I grow up, I want to be a doggy doo collector. Yeah, right!

Come to think of it I could do with a Tui or tu right now.

and there up ahead is the Dublin St Bridge. Fatman time for the trip, a touch over 2 hours. A very pleasant stroll for a spring afternoon. Thank you Mayor Michael and Council.