Greetings!
Sitting on top of a thin layer of the hot mantle of the earth, where the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates meet, it is strange to be counting the seconds between eruptions of steaming hot water vapor shooting up between the cracks. The ground is sometimes too hot to stand on, and the benches provided are a welcome relief.
Animals and trees adapt well to the environment, so we decided to learn more about New Zealand farming by taking in the very popular AgriDome Show nearby. Nineteen different kinds of sheep, how to shear them, get them home from the meadows, cow-milking, and sheep dog trials were demonstrated for a crowd of 100 of us in a large barn and grounds. A really great performance of staff and animals, and an audience from all over the world.
But the topper of the day was the visit to a 5600 hectare
Whakarewarewa Forest, containing California Coastal Redwood trees. Planted in the late 1800s, and not enjoying coastal fog to raise them to California heights (nor cause them to have shallow roots), these giants nevertheless were impressive.
Surrounded by huge tree ferns, the atmosphere was much more like that which probably existed 100 million years ago in California. Pre-cutting, the trees stand straight and tall, and the sunlight creates a kaleidoscope of shadows on the trails.
The forest is also home to a treewalk and world-class mountain biking. The deep-rooted trees allow seriously hardened paths and trails, and plenty of other water-competing species close to the routes.
The one last special contribution which my friends who believe in public restrooms will enjoy is the
Shroud Art - Toilets. Art and function combined very creatively.
To see all of the photos taken today, click on:
Tuesday, Mar 5th, Rotorua, New Zealand.
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