UK and Montenegro

These pictures were taken on our latest trip to the UK. We also spent a week each in the Lake District and Montenegro.

The Lake District was rather soggy which limited the walking somewhat. Other than meeting up with friends, the highlight was walking up Blencathra, which involved a bit of scrambling and was great fun.

In Montenegro we stayed at Kotor which is on the coast and Zabljak which is up high in the mountains.

Kotor has a lovely walled old town and is situated in a stunningly beautiful bay. Zabljak itself is pretty unremarkable but is great gateway to the Durmitor National Park.

Neena and I also visited Dubrovnik, which I thought was very pretty, but way too busy and overly familiar; the place feels more like a theme park or a film set than a working town, which I guess it is as a great many movies have been shot there, along with Game of Thrones of course.

Highlight: Kotor (a bit like Dubrovnik, but nicer, quieter and a bit less discovered).

Lowlight: Montenegro’s suicidal drivers.

Lake District:

Montenegro (Kotor):

 Sveti Stefan (on the way to Kotor)

Dubrovnik:

Montenegro (Durmitor NP and Zabljak):

 This and the next two were taken somewhere on the way to Zabljak.

 We stayed here.

 Tara Canyon.

Taupo

This year’s Lexicon (NZ National Science Fiction & Fantasy) event was held in Taupo. I don’t attend every year, but one of my best friends was going to be there, and Taupo region is a mighty fine part of the country, so I just had to go.

Other than seeing my friend, the highlight of the trip was a walk from Taupo to Huka Falls (about 14km return) which is where the pictures below were taken. The lowlight was getting nicked for speeding on the way back!

Nelson

These were taken on a walk to Fringed Hill in Nelson, our favourite town in NZ.

 At the start.

 On the way up.

Still on the way up (it was a bloody long slog).

At the top (793m).

Napier (Again)

Another month, and another motorcycle trip to Napier, this time with my mate Neil. Somehow, we managed to choose the coldest weekend of the year. It was absolutely perishing with snow up in ranges and even some snow up on the Rimutaka summit.

The weather was absolutely vile on the way up, but got a bit better the closer we got to Napier, if no warmer. I met up with Neil in Woodville which is about half way from Wellington to Napier, so he was spared the worst of the weather.

Last time I did this trip I camped, but there was bugger all chance I was going to be doing that this time. We settled on a nice warm cabin and dinner and beer at the pub over the road, which eased the pain somewhat.

 The Rimutaka Summit.

 In Napier. Neil, thinking about breakfast.

The weather was a bit better on the way back, at least until we got close to the mountains. You can see the Ruahines in the distance with some snow on the tops.

(Not) Totara Flats Hut

These pictures were taken on a 2-day tramp with my friend John. The target of the trip was Totara Flats Hut. As tends to happen with us, it didn’t really work out that way.

There had been very heavy rain in the Tararua Ranges and it continued to rain throughout the first day, hence very few pictures.

The track to the Hut climbed up steadily to about 800m before dropping steeply down a rather gnarly route to a stream. There is no bridge, but the stream is usually easily crossable. On this occasion though we were met with a raging torrent. We had a couple of attempts at crossing but in the end decided it was too risky and a tactical retreat was in order. It was getting dark and neither of us fancied a wet and miserable night in the bush, so we headed back up the steep hill we had just come down and made it to the Mountain House shelter about an hour and half later in the dark. The shelter is not really intended for overnight stays, but needs must.

The next day we headed back by dropping down to the rather lovely Atiwhakatu valley and then back out to the road end.

 At Pig Flat.

 Our impromtu nights accommodation.

 The shelter was a bit cold and draughty, but a lot better than being outside.

 The next morning.

 The last few pictures were taken in Atiwhakatu valley on the way back to the roadend.