Saturday 11th January -
Doug, Suezette, Norma, Pat & I left early to have a day at Fox Peak
- the idea being to photograph the Alpine flowers, mainly the white daisy
celmisia and whatever else presented itself. Well, what choices we had.
As we ascended the road, we were shrouded in mist which in itself gave us plenty of moody atmospheric images. Then as we emerged from the cloud into brilliant sunshine looking down onto the clouds of "candy floss" - breath taking!
Our host, Roland Dale welcomed us to his batch with a very late morning tea before we tramped across the golden tussock to the South Basin. The views were again breath taking.
A late lunch at 3pm was enjoyed, then Roland took us to some of his favourite spots, which are seen below.
Our most enjoyable day concluded with drinks and dinner, before capturing the late sunset enhanced by the unfortunate fire on the island at Lake Tekapo.
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There were drifts of celmisia everywhere as we
started to climb the hills |
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The fog added lots of mood and atmosphere
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Likened to match sticks in the background - an awesome sight
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| Another take on the one above |
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Then, we drove above the clouds - wow!!
"Stop the car" was the shout!! |
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| Many images taken - how could you not!! |
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| Sun rays, blue sky, and candy floss clouds |
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| a clump of celmisia |
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| Roland's pride & joy |
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| The view from Foxhole - along with "the room with a view" |
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After some refreshments we went walking mountaineering |
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| This tiny wee plant I found in a crack in the rocks |
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| Ever so tiny found in natures rock garden |
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| Growing from the rocks |
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| Flourishing |
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| Another smaller species of celmisia |
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| celmisia underside |
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| The team - Norma, Suezette, Pat, Me |
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| The clouds kept rolling in and away all day |
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| These are the larger variety.... |
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| ...and were in very good condition |
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| We've all got one - a backside!! |
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| A bit of mono arty farty |
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| Prickly & lethal - don't mess with these, they leave their mark |
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The Speargrass/taramea were flowering and
making quite a statement |
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| Along came a wee bug for his moment of fame! |
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| Dried celmisia seed head |
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| Roland took us to this very pretty spot..... |
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| .....where the blooms were exquisite |
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| This reminded me of the Plitvice Lakes & waterfalls, Croatia |
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| Native flax flower - colours incredible |
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| Flax silhouettes |
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The team - Pat, Doug, Roland
Me, Norma, Suezette
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Days end, an ocean of clouds.
The golden colour is smoke from the fire on Moturiki Island, Lake Tekapo
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