Braids of Blue

The Waimakariri River

It was a brilliant day. At lunchtime I went to the Waimak Gorge hoping to see some activity, but it was almost deserted and nobody was getting out of their vehicles into the sharp easterly breeze. Standing on the bridge I was struck by the vibrant colour of the river. The water is blue even when the sky is grey, but blue skies intensify the colour. Upstream the blue was much darker, and the shadows were navy.

The Waimakariri is a braided river. It flows along a number of strands that meander and mingle like loosely plaited fibre. Here is a view I took from the air last year. It shows what I mean.

Beyond the river are willows in their winter leaflessness.

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