Recently circumstances prevented me from my early torchlight hike, so I planned a trip at 1pm to the Bowenvale Valley, one of my favourite places to hike.

I arrived at the area that gave me 3 options. Straight up, to the left, or to the right. As I was deciding I noticed to people coming from the right.
The farmers cows had congregated at the gate, and last time I had gone through that way, they objected strongly to my 2 dogs, inspite of them bothbeing on leads, so I was heading off straight up the hill when the lady spoke to me asking me if I knew the area. I very quickly established that they were visitors from another town, and had come down from the top car park and wanting to return another way, having plenty of time on their hands.
I sent them up the left track showing them on their map where to go, but as I climbed up, realized the track was blocked with fallen pinetrees, and they would not know where to go, so waited for them to come, further directing them up the hill.
I was distracted with the dogs, and when I looked, they had disappeared. I realized that they had taken the wrong turn and gone into Hidden Valley. There are tracks there, but not officially marked ones and you really need to know the area to go on them. I hurried to catch them up, finally doing so as they rested halfway up the hill on the other side of Hidden Valley. I pointed out to them that there were no markers around, and that they must follow them to keep safe.
I then showed them a short cut up Hidden Valley to the track they should have been on, and kept an eye on them as I continued my climb up to the top, while they went on their way.
I let them know that I was not normally out hiking that hour of the day, and had been 'sent' to help them, which they expressed appreciation for.

I had planned in my mind the route I would take before I left home, yet the cows blocked my enterance, and I was able to help 2 lovely hikers keep safe in the hills. And I enjoyed the different route I took immensley, expecially as it was a beautiful sunny winter's day.

In my absense from here the last few weeks, I have become a Grandmother to Zara Mikalya, a beautiful daughter to our beloved daughter and son-in-law.

It was with great delight that I flew North for 3 weeks and not only enjoyed our grandaughter and family, but was able to step out the door and almost into bush walks. There were several all around the district, and what fun I had exploring them. The North Island bush is so different to the South Island, and as a North Islander, I was very much at home!
An hours drive away is the Waitakeri Rangers, an area of bush saved in the 20's by a farmer with foresight and determination that the magnificant Kauri trees would not circum to the chainsaw.

I was fortunate enough to be able to spend 4 hours exploring various tracks, observe the bird life, enjoy the stream singing and experience a very personal encounter with God. I saw no one for 3 of those hours,so it was real 'time out' that we all need at times in our life.

I am looking forward to a return trip next year to visit family and encounter more of the Waitakeri Ranges.

Is that west of the Bay of Islands and south of Taheke,near the Waipoua Kauri Forest...or am I too far north?

The Waitakeri Rangers is a one hour drive from central Auckland City, over near the west coast of the Island.
I haven't got a map to see exactly where you are asking about, I would say you are too far north though.

I see it now...it's about 40km west of the airport.

The Waitakere Ranges encloses the Auckland Centennial Park, I see.

I love kauri wood...brought a bit of it home to carve on.

Kauri wood is very popular here for carving the most beautiful pieces from. I have seen all sorts of things from seats to candle holders.
They were very popular in the 20th centuary for making the interior of a home from. Kauri banisters carved - spectacular - a beautiful ornate wood, which is why we lost a lot of our Kauri forests.
Kauri is also grown on the West Coast of the South Island, and a few years back logging was stopped by the government for fear of loosing these beautiful native trees. There were great protests from the West Coasters, but the trees are still there, and the Coasters have survived, no doubt making their living in something else.
Kauri trees grow tall and straight which is what makes them so popular to work with.

For the last 6 weeks I have been unable to go out on my favourite hiking trails due to injuring my right foot. I have not even been able to wear hiking boots or anything that laces up!

It's been very hard not to get out there in nature and drink in the freshness of the new day, the peace that God brings us or the specialness of the sunrise.

We must never take for granted the blessings God gives us daily.

As I made my rounds in the hospital this week, I came across a man with no legs.

My foot will heal, eventually, and I will return to the hills that surround our beautiful Garden City.

In the meantime, I am reflecting on the wonderful trips I have made, and biking round the block each morning!

On a not so painful morning this week, I drove the dogs up to the dog park on a hill and sat and enjoyed the view out to sea, the 2 hot air balloons over the city, and the glorious sunrise to another beautiful autumn day.

Our time would be well spent in blessing others, and praising our wonderful God.

Hi Zita!
Sorry to hear of your foot!
When we were in NZ we bought some Kauri wood blocks for carving, some bowls and platters turned on the lathe and even was given a tumbled hunk of Kauri gum, (that I consider amber as much as anything from Europe!), by an old couple who makes traditional Mauri greenstone (jade to you non-Kiwis) carvers.

Nature in NZ cannot be compared with the rest of the world....Glad He let us come to see it!

What is the name of that South Island giant cricket that gets frozen solid every night yet comes alive each morning???

Thank you Ikan, I hope I can be back on track real soon too!

Here is the answer to your question.

Virtually all of New Zealands native insects are found nowherre else. The world's heaviest insect, the cricket like giant weta, some of which are about the size of a mouse, is quite harmless.

I have observed these weta's myself in the forest, but I have never had the desire to pick one up - even if they are harmless!!

The Tuatara, an ancient reptile with a lineage extendng back to the age of dinosaurs, is found only in New Zealand. There are no snakes or poisonous creatures except for the very rare coastal Katipo spider.

We are indeed blessed here in New Zealand with the most wonderful variety of different animals/birds/insects.

Recently I visited Te Papa in our Capital Wellington - a modern museum that displayed our wildlife in the most interesting natural way. It was a delight to visit and see our heritage.

Glad you could come and see...........

For those who would like to learn about some of our walking tracks here in NZ try this site.

www.New-Zealand.com/outdoors.html