Driftwood - Hokitika Style

The geography of the West Coast is such that the land rises quickly from the coast to the 12,000 foot Southern Alps. A feature of the climate is that air travels across the Tasman Sea, picking up moisture. It hits the land and has to rise suddenly and steeply to cross the alps. To do so, it releases it's load. Accordingly, much of the West Coast is blanketed in lush green rain forest. When the weather is good, as it was for our long weekend there, it is a stunningly beautiful place. When it rains, you are left in awe of nature's power.

Because the land is steep and the rainfall heavy, the rivers rise (and then fall) quickly. This continual cycle of flash flooding flushes masses of debris down the rivers and into the sea. Hokitika beach has a beauty which is rugged rather than tranquil. The crashing tide dumps the driftwood on the beach- sticks, entire trees and sometimes stumps such as this one. It may be there for some time, or the next big sea may take it away.

Oh, and I like the lines in the sky, so chalk it up for assignment 22.