Coromandel - Shelly Beach (Monday)
Dawnbreaker
Lars Alfredson
Thu 15 May 2014 09:09
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Comomandel - Shelly Beach Position: 36:44.13S 175:28.89E Good-Bye Jimmy, Good-Bye Jimmy. As we left the Camping Grounds, Jimmy screamed so many Good-Byes to us we thought he was glad to see us off. On the way Winter showed it self with all the wonderful colours around each Farm. It was in a way very strange to see most of the trees with Autumn/Winter colours in May.   Jimmy in his Cage that he's eating up Silver Beech and Maple Tree, beautiful We visited another of the "Kauri Trees" Reserve. Everywhere the New Zealanders are trying to bring the Kauri trees back as they are so sacred and mean alot to the Mauri's. Alot of the branches have other vegetation growing on them and it makes them look very meaningful to the forest and other plants.   A group of Kauri trees growing above all the other trees Ferns and Grasses growing on branches Today (Monday), I've been here only 2 weeks. Whow! what alot Lars and I have done in just 2 weeks and I'm here for 2 1/2 months more. We won't be able to put out the blog as often when we end up on the South Island, so it might be a group of photo's of our adventures. Anyway, today we are going to visit the train that was built for Art. The train is run to collect and have access to the clay that is in the hills around this 60 acre property. The Pottery was and is built by hand by Barry Brickell, an eccentric local potter and railway enthusiast. The track is only 381mm (approx; 15") wide and climbs 120m over a distance of only 3 km.   The train we went in is called Snake No 3. View's from the train   The track taking us to the top. The view half-way up the track. Everywhere there were pieces of Pottery that Barry or his students had made from the clay that they dug out from different points along the way. When we got to the top it was called "Eyefull Tower" after the one in France.  At the top   The amazing view at the top All the passengers milling around   Everything was made at the Pottery. Barry built most of the track with help  Panels and brickwork made at the Pottery The train ride was fantastic. There were so many different pieces to see along the way, sometimes you missed them the first time but saw them again while on our return to the Workshop and Station. We stopped for the night at Shelly Beach. It's quiet and not alot of people around on a Monday but wait un til Friday the Camp Grounds everywhere will be packed again. We saw these amazing birds with little hats on. Their name is "California quail". They were doing a dance for us and as they were a pair it must of been the male showing off as usual.   Lars has put up the flags as on a yacht The California Quails  The male Quail with his little hat. That's it for today, back again soon. Love Caroline and Lars. x |