A Bonnetful of Bees

It isn’t far from Auckland… (Apologies to Alfred Noyes).

I can still recall heading down to Kew Gardens whenever I got homesick on my OE, to hang out with the New Zealand trees and shrubs in the temperate house – tragically lost when wild storms some twenty years later left a trail of devastation across the south of England.  By my glasshouse, too, is a vigorous patch of London Pride, the first plant to reappear on the bombed-out wastelands of wartime London, giving heart to those faced with the task of rebuilding.

After one of the wildest and wettest Septembers I can recall in years, I ventured out in the garden this afternoon with a camera.  Flowers have a remarkable ability to emerge, by no means unscathed, but still quite, quite beautiful after all the storms – or the Huns – can throw at them.

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Bonny and I are back from a trip to Cape Reinga and the far far north.  Cape Reinga in soaking rain and howling wind absolutely superb as you might imagine.

On the way up there, we called in for coffee and a feed at the Gecko Cafe in Kaitaia, mid main street on the left as you head north and if you like superb coffee and cafe tucker, this is the best I have had in years. (more…)

With the trails explored, I began to walk a little further afield.  This walk began at the South Gate, at the end of the sealed surface of Ihumatao Rd, and takes a little over half an hour, though you can extend it at your leisure.

http://wudhi.com/mrwalker/otuataua%20stonefields/otuataua%20volcano%2001.htm

Back in the 1990s, Monsanto cashed in on the accidental discovery that it was possible to genetically engineer certain crop plants so that they were resistant to the Monsanto weedkiller, Roundup. The seed for these crops, mainly soy, canola, corn, and cotton, was marketed by Monsanto as “Roundup Ready”

Roundup was the weedkiller of choice for a whole variety of reasons in any case. It killed a broad spectrum of weeds, was easy and safe to work with, and broke down quickly, reducing its environmental impact (which is not to say that it had zero impact!!)

Up till then, you couldn’t use it once your crops had been planted. You needed other, more expensive and labour intensive weed control methods. Now, you could plant your cash crop, and spray the whole paddock with Roundup as much as you wanted to clear the weeds, with no harm to your cash crop!

And so began the US love affair with Roundup and genetically engineered food. Monsanto made a killing with Roundup and it also made a killing with its genetically engineered Roundup Ready seeds, which had to be bought new each year, not saved from last year’s crop.

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I have now posted the report on the Otuataua Geology trail, with embellishments to come as I assemble more information about the local volcanic field.

http://wudhi.com/mrwalker/otuataua%20stonefields/otuataua%20stonefields%20geology%20trail%20-%2001.htm

I just posted a report on the Otuataua Stonefields Botany Trail at

http://wudhi.com/mrwalker/otuataua%20stonefields/otuataua%20stonefields%20botany%20trail%20-%2001.htm

Had a ball on Saturday. Somewhere between 20,000 and 50,000 people, depending on who was counting, waving placards and generally making a noise.  Highlights, “Lock up Brownlee and throw away the Key,” “I can’t fucking believe I’m still protesting this shit,”  “No Daddy state either,” and a large poster of John Key, with a small Hitler mustache, saying “Mein”!  Rather unkind in view of his ancestry, but still…

These are about 5 minutes drive from Auckland Airport, and possibly of more immediate interest to an archaeology student than they are to a casual walker looking for somewhere to spend an afternoon.

Without at least some prior awareness of the area’s history, geology and botany, you are walking through a largely neglected collection of rocks, kikuyu and cowshit.

However, once you start to get some of this information on board, you can visit and revisit and as with many of these sites, the more you see the more you see, and the more there is to see.

It links with the coastal walkway, and for birdwatchers and photographers the Mangere coastline is a treasure.  A cyclist friend recommends the coastal walkway.

But it is unfortunately true that there is very little available on site to assist the casual visitor. My Otuataua webpage is a work in progress to bring together as much information as I can in one place about the Stonefields Reserve.  If you can add to it, I’d love to hear from you

The Filter Track runs from the Scenic Drive for just under a kilometre down to the service road a little west of the Filter Station, or vv.

I’m not recommending this track if you’re in a hurry. After a gentle enough start, it descends very steeply, and one is frequently lowering oneself to the next step below by hanging on to tree roots at eye level. However, I’m 68, 180cm, and 140 kg (blushes) at present, and I can tell you it’s manageable both ways, if you take your time and go carefully. ARC time 45 minutes. Fatman time, 68 minutes each way. In wet weather or after recent rain, I wouldn’t bother.

A full report and photos at http://wudhi.com/mrwalker/filter/filter%2001.htm.