Suddenly it’s 3 weeks later

The trip north was wonderful, nothing like a road trip in springtime. Lime green of the new grown and yellow of wattle and gorse all the way up the South Island and then what started as a nice fin day in Wellington turned into more of a wild wet day driving north .

I was tired when I arrived back and somehow managed to lose 3 weeks. I managed a couple of mushroom excursions, although always hopeful this is the wrong time of year to see much.

A day out to Mangatautri ( Sanctuary Mountain) was a highlight. About an hour and half from here, I had never been before. It’s a mountain with old growth forest and 47 km of predator proof fence that has been put around the whole mountain to allow native birds, especially endangered ones like the takahe, to flourish. An incredible outdoor classroom and an inspiration when you can see what the forest looks like without the possums, wallaby’s, rats and stoats. Bird life was noisy and delightful and I can’t wait to go back in mushy season.