Island Tour
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Fri 21 Jun 2013 22:17
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Island Tour On
Foot
Bear went off for fresh French sticks
early and pottered for a while. I leapt up and shocked him by suggesting today
was the day to do his island walk. Before I had cleaned my teeth he had packed a
picnic and was by the door. We stopped for an ice cream and the lady said
tomorrow, we had to make do with a double chocolate Magnum. The track is just
opposite and within minutes we were on the steep upward
route.
Bear thought it was hilarious and even I
managed a smile.
Ferns
everywhere.
Nearing the top of the hill we had a lovely view of the
coral reef in the shallows. Beez nearest in, of the group of
yachts in the anchorage.
At
the top we had a view of Mount Duff and Rikitea below and just a pretty
picture.
At
the crest we went through a tunnel and out into the
sunshine for the steep track
down.
Fir
cones and fern leaves, not my wished for coconut palms on
sandy beaches, but Bear has them on promise
for me. Massive trees this side of the hill and many
ghost leaves.
A one careful owner at the bottom of
the hill, overtaken by trees, this made for wonderful
root systems.
Evidence of storm damage. Bear loved
this tree, looks like a pair of legs.
Finally we see the end of the
track.
The main road, we leave the sign behind and Bear admires a
dongle.
A wealthy pearl farmers house and
wonderful garden. A cycas resplendent and in flower.
A first for us, we had a tiny one at home but never seen one in bloom.
A massive front garden and the road goes on, getting much steeper.
Trees cling on somehow and up high we
get lovely views.
We see many pearl
farms.
A tiny brindle friend and stunning flowers.
Up
another hill, we look back to the far trees, the
start of the second half of this short bimble............
Finally we see the Rikitea sign and I
say ‘thank you’, flowers and a poinsettia tree. The
odd thing is the silence. Other than the odd cricket we hear nothing but
chickens. High on the first hill we were level with three tropicbirds who make
an odd duck like sound but that was it. All these miles and hours (don’t mention
the throbbing feet) we hear nothing else. We have seen weeds – Bear thought it
unusual to see thistles, we also saw dandelion, periwinkle, chick weed and many
others but a complete absence of stinging nettles.
Now just to get back to sea
level.
ALL IN ALL QUIET, TOO
QUIET
VERY GOOD
EXERCISE |