Mud and Swamp!

What a great day. D's last day in AKL today so we went for a hike along Karekare beach (near Piha) and returned via Mt Zion. (for some reason I couldn't stop the song "Rivers of Babylon" running through my head as I  trudged up through the mud!).

Fabulous walk, with great views and lots of flora, (kowhai, hebe, pterostylis orchids, and something unknown (pink flower) on the forest floor), and birds, including lots of tui enjoying the kowhai. The pic shows the challenge of negotiating a "rolly-polly" round fence post bridge with great potential for disaster! With the help of a flax stem for vague support we both managed it OK.

It has been a great time having son D staying for the weekend, just a shame that wife D has had to be in Christchurch for work commitments.

Couldn't decide on the Blip for today, so there's a few in extras....