Alpine flora. Seen near the snowline on Mt Ruapehu, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Friday flowers
Mt Ruapehu
Normal service has resumed
Back to reality. Coffee, lists and bill-paying. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
The boy-child and I have been on a little road trip to visit my father.
I had intended to keep up with the blogging world while away. But truly, we were having too much fun exploring.
The boy and the mountain. Mt Ruapehu from the Desert Road. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
So apologies for my slowness in engaging with your posts and responding to comments. It’s gone on my “to-do” list.
Wordless Wednesday: road trip day #1
Mt Ngaruahoe (right) and what’s left of Mt Tongariro, North Island, NZ. Photo taken from the Bruce Road, Mt Ruapehu. Su Leslie, 2014
En route to visit my dad, I took a detour up Mt. Ruapehu, the North Island’s tallest mountain. It looked like a great day for skiing, but I was content to just crunch around in the snow for a little while.
Travel theme: close-up
Lichen, Whakapapa Village, North Island, NZ. Photo: Su Leslie, 2014
It’s only been two weeks since my little road trip to see my dad, but already memories are fading.
One of the highlights of the trip was the drive up to Chateau Tongariro and then up the Bruce Road to the chairlifts at the Whakapapa Ski area.
Living further north – and on the coast – I am always exhilarated by the mountains, especially the spare and rugged plant life. I loved the gorgeous lichens and heathers I found.
Heather? Or some other tough high altitude plant. Mt Ruapehu, North Island, NZ. Photo: Su Leslie 2014
But perhaps the best “close-up” was the Chateau itself. Built in 1929, this hotel is a New Zealand landmark (I hate using the word “icon” – but it is). It was designed by New Zealand architect Herbert Hall, but modeled on the resort hotel at Lake Louise in Canada. From the 1930s until 1990, the Chateau was owned by the New Zealand government through the Tourist Hotel Corporation, which ran a number of hotels around the country. Since privatization, a new wing of 40 rooms has been added.
I’ve only stayed at the Chateau once; several months into my first job out of university I was sent to a conference there. Young, gauche and slightly out of my depth, I nevertheless had a wonderful time – feeling very grown up and sophisticated.
First glimpse: approaching the Chateau Tongariro. Photo: Su Leslie, 2014
Up close. Definitely one of my “happy places.” The Chateau Tongariro, North Island, NZ. Photo: Su Leslie, 2014.
This post was written for Ailsa’s Travel Theme at Where’s my Backpack. Here are few other close-ups I’ve enjoyed:
http://politonomicsandtravel.wordpress.com/2014/05/05/weekly-travel-theme-close-up-3-05-05-14/
http://whichwaynow101.wordpress.com/2014/05/04/travel-theme-close-up/
http://exxtracts.wordpress.com/2014/05/04/travel-theme-close-up/
http://geriatrixfotogallerie.wordpress.com/2014/05/04/travel-theme-close-up/
http://smallbluegreenwords.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/travel-theme-close-up/
http://decocraftsdigicrafts.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/travel-theme-close-up/
http://witrianphotofolio.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/travel-theme-close-up/
http://pommepal.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/travel-theme-close-up/
http://shootngo.wordpress.com/2014/05/02/travel-theme-close-up/
http://shaanthz.wordpress.com/2014/05/02/travel-theme-close-up/
http://ahecticlife.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/travel-theme-close-up/
Six word Saturday: the end of the road (trip)
Early morning on the Central Plateau, Mt Ngaruahoe on the horizon. Photo: Su Leslie 2014
Twilight on the Waikato River at Mercer. Photo: Su Leslie, 2014
It was a lovely few days away. Too much rain at first, but two days of big skies and sunshine on the mountains. A visit to my dad and lots of time to reflect and relax.
Six word Saturday is a blogging prompt from Cate at Show my Face. Here are some other blogger’s Saturday’s that I’ve enjoyed:
http://genealogysisters.wordpress.com/2014/04/26/six-word-saturday-26-april-2014/
http://elainemcnulty.wordpress.com/2014/04/26/six-word-saturday-same-old-same-old/
