Nov 10-12, 2002
2nd Tale

The wind never stops, at least it hasn't while I've been here, but I love it. It is strong at times, yet not harsh; seems to taste of stories and legends yet to be discovered and told. But then I never cared for stagnant air and slow-moving weather.

The same goes for the scenery. One moment you are winding up and down the greenest, most English-like countryside last side of last century (before man got his grubby mitts into the earth and shaped it to the size of a bulging wallet), with sheep, cattle, even alpaca, deer and elk grazing under a brilliant sky. The next moment you are in a subtropical gorge that plunges deep into fantastically clear blue rivers, so far down that these wild Kiwis throw over bridges and have you jump off them in a flying leap to the depths below where the cold, clear water rushes up to practically embrace you before the bungee rope springs you back up into the air again. No, I didn't jump! I will climb up just about any tree or cliff (barefoot) you like, and have done, but don't ever ask me to look down! Can't handle that one!

On this leg of the trip we drove from Auckland up north toward the Bay of Islands. Through hills covered in forests of trees and grasses we drove, stopping at a Bee store with bee hives, candles, honey and lots of yummy things. Then we were off to the East Coast where the road trailed down a steep cliff to a beach where incredibly blue water lapped at shores of rocks thrusting upward in fantastic shapes. We got out of the car and I took off down a steep trail, scampering all over the rocks taking photos and discovering arches, holes and deep pools of clear water. I took off my shoes to see what the water was like – it was delicious – not too cold, but cold enough! I loved it. I feel at home here as I never have anywhere else I have been, and I have been to many places.

From there we went to the Kauri Tree forest. These trees are huge and take hundreds of years to grow; big-around as some of the American redwoods, but with the branches only spurting out after hundreds of feet of trunk rise up. There is only 3% left of these natural bush forests in all of New Zealand. Apparently the Maoris burned off 70% percent before the white man had ever come, hunting to extinction the Moa bird (it looks like a cross between an ostrich and an overgrown dodo, 6-9 feet high), then the white man took nearly the remainder for clearing pasture and building. I have a pet peeve against actions of this sort. I wish more peoples knew of and would follow some of laws of the old Iroquois Indians from America’s Northeast, this one being the "7 generations law." The Iroquois would consider all their proposed actions and consequences of them on all aspects of life and living things for the next 7 generations before they decided to take an action of any magnitude.

We traveled back across the hills to the East coast again, staying overnight at a couple's Bed and Breakfast house. The “Turkey Farm.” It was simply wonderful. The people here are so friendly and helpful and have a tremendous amount of warmth. We were atop a windblown hill in the middle of farms and forestland. For the first time in years I awoke to the sounds only nature could create. Not a hint of a car, plane, or Freeway. Do you know how long I have wanted to hear...nothing? Except for the birds who's songs are melodies that caress the ear and delight the soul. I awoke before everyone else and ran outside to feel the cool misty rain on my face and the wind sloughing through the grasses. It was magical. I watched a farmer and his dogs round up some cattle and nudge them up the road. The wind picked up and the sun decided to shine to make our day at the beach in the Bay of Islands a real treat. But before we got there we went to Rainbow Falls.

Down the Rainbow Falls trail we went, on a steep, winding path flanked by ferns and moss-covered trees, until it opened out into a small, secluded lake with an incredible waterfall fanning over a cave-like cutting in the cliff behind it into the shadowed water below. “Wow!” can hardly do it justice! I can't wait to show the pics! The path was an hour walk through a fantasy forest. I felt like I was walking through a primeval forestland living at the beginning of time. This kind of place has always been a home deep inside of me.

Then to the Bay of Islands. Endless coves, bays, beaches and islands in deep turquoise waters teeming with life. We saw a Manta Ray swimming near the shore and many large jellyfish. The sun can get intense and hot here. I got burned. You can burn in minutes in this land! We took a ferry across to the mainland and drove back to Auckland as the sun set behind the mists and clouds that had crept back again, subduing the strength of the light into pastel shades and muted shadow.

Well that is the 2nd tale. There is a third, but don't know If I have enough time to get it off – we experienced every kind of weather, but I'll tell more later.

© Marcelle La Cour. All Worldwide Rights Reserved   

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