Cows

We have always believed that Molly was from some kind of cattle dog heritage. In her 14 years in the USA she never got within a heifer's screech of a live animal. Unfortunately our bubble was burst recently when wee introduced Molly to a field of New Zealand cattle. One look at them and she hightailed it for the safety of the perimeter fence.

Molly was very gracious in indulging some bovine butt sniffing. We think the cattle thought she was a lost pigmy calf.

Bovine mullets are all the rage here.

Martinborough - the Heldsburg of Wellington

We took a well earned break from the books last week and went on a little driving tour of the Wairarapa (why is everywhere so difficult to spell here?) wine region. It is only about an hour from Wellington but it is another world. You have to drive over the Rimutakas (see what I mean) and drop down into the most pretty alluvial valley. This picture was taken from the crest of the mountain range. It is covered in native bush - quite stunning.

The Wairarapa is known for its Burgandy style Pinot Noirs. The harvest is almost complete for 2009, and autumn is clearly in the air. This year is expected to be a bumper year thanks to a perfect growing season. We will do our best to help out with the wine glut that they are expecting.

A little bit of California made it over here. Now I really could swear I was up in Santa Rosa somewhere.

We made it all the way to the east coast of the North Island. The beaches are wild, covered in fine black pebbels and the Tasman Sea is very inposing.

Tongariro Crossing

Two weekends ago we decided to complete the Tongariro crossing. It is one of the New Zealand "great walks", which has nothing to do with the walk itself, but means that the huts on the route have a toilet and cooking facility The walk is really not that long unless you decide to add a side trip up the volcano in the background. We have been told that this was the scene of Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings. Then again, just about everywhere in New Zealand was a scene in the movie, them hobbits sure got around.

What makes the volcano climb so hard is that, if we were lucky, for ever step we went up,we went back 3/4 of the distance (see the video a little later). The shredded hands and boots filled with small particulates of gravel did not add much to the sense of accomplishment. We managed to make it just to the top by dusk and had the most stunning walk home in the moonlight. The return trip was due west, facing another volcanic mountain called Mount Taranaki. Note to self, skip climbing that one.

Gravel skiiing on Mount Doom

Next day we walked across the most surreal moonscape. I am convinced Armstrong was photographed here. Why would you bother going to the moon when you can go to Tongariro. And the meat pies are so much better.

Fabulous green lakes, that the photo does no justice to.