From Snow Chains to Sunshine and Back Again

A four layer day to start

Putting snow chains on the Gatorwaka

Snow chains on Piwakawaka

The gate to Hinewai with everything looking beautiful int he emerging sunshine!

So, one the reason we left one day early on our Akaroa trip was to enjoy at least one warm, sunny day before "sleet and southerlies (cold winds from the south off of Antarctica)" set in.  We heard rain at about 5am down in Akaroa, which provided a light dusting of beautiful snow on the hills above us at Hinewai.  Not daunted by our weather forecast that said to wear four layers of clothing and a waterproof/windproof layer, we set off from our backpackers for Hinewai.  (I should also make a note here that many mornings are about 27 degrees and we have ice/frost on our windshields that we scrape off or pour a bucket of warm water on to melt.)  About half way up the hill there, we saw a tourist car backing down unprepared for the icy road.  We stopped and put the snow chains on our vans (Yes to my own Dad, I do now know how to put on and take off snow chains - check. And thank you to Kacie and crew for reading the insert to help Dr. Hos with his as they were slightly different than the ones we had had a lesson with!).  Mark and I were excited as we had not seen Hinewai with snow before and knew it would be beautiful.  Since the day would warm to 47F we knew that it would not last long.  (As I write this it is 8:15pm and I am amazed at how accurate the weather for the day was - it said that we would get precipitation at 8pm and it is raining down here in Akaroa so I am thinking folks up at the Visitor's Center/Lodge at Hinewai are getting a nice bit of fresh sleet and/or snow.)

The gang with Hugh Wilson and Andrew, a helper at Hinewai, before setting off on our hike

Heading off into Hinewai for a good hike

Big Totara

Long Bay beach at the bottom - where the hike is headed

We got our gear settled in with renown Botanist, Hugh Wilson, who runs Hinewai and got ready to set out on a hike while the weather was good and the day was warming.  We visited the Big Totara and went down the two-hour track for the beach at Long Bay.  Along the way, Mark and Jámm pointed out native species of plants in this forest that have been restored from what was once farmland.  Note here too that Mark will add more pictures from the hike tomorrow, but I was in charge of getting the Gatorwaka down to the beach to meet everyone so no one had to hike back in the cooler temps or nightfall.

Enjoying lunch in the warm sun at the bottom of the hike

Paul's beloved Kakariki

We enjoyed our lunches in the warm sunshine and got to view some captive native Kakariki parakeets that have been permitted to one of Hugh's helpers at Hinewai, Paul.  Paul explained that they can not be released in the Canterbury Plains as they have been bred of in cages, and if they were released they would have no other birds to breed with except themselves.  They are also ground nesters and introduced mammal predators would find them tasty snacks.

Where the farm meets the sea

View from Long Bay beach

Paua shells!

The gang at Long Bay beach

Then we were off to the beach at Long Bay.  The bottom parcel of land at Hinewai belongs to a farmer that has had the land in his family for several generations.  While it is not part of the reserve, he allows Hugh access to the beach across his property and supports the reintroduction of the native Tui that we learned about yesterday with sugar water feeders and many fruiting and flowering trees that they like.

(NOTE: Just before we had lunch, we ran into Wayne [who we helped with weeding at Little River just a few days before].  He works for the Department of Conservation and had just helped release a yellow-eyed penguin back into the wild at Long Bay beach.  Although we heard that he scampered up to the rocks there instead of heading out to sea, we did not catch sight of him, but were happy to know he was there someplace close by.)

The afternoon was sunny and bright and we enjoyed our time at the beach looking for Paua shells before loading up into the Gatorwaka to head back up the hill for Hinewai.

A view of inside the Hinewai Visitor Center

 The gang and Mark will spend the night at the Visitor Center/Lodge at Hinewai.  They have 11 bunks there and a log burner to keep them (mostly) warm.  Hugh Wilson will have a change to tell them a great bed time story about the history of Aotearoa and Hinewai.  We expect it will indeed snow up there overnight so we will not leave until late morning giving some time for this to warm up a bit.  More pictures to follow of these adventures as well!  Until then...
Stay Warm And Sweet Dreams Everyone, Meryl : )