Grab a Paddle, Reach for the Stars!

Today was a day out of the bike saddles -- even the die-hard riders opted to enjoy the on-foot and on-water activities offered by the Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge. In the morning, three of us went with Backroads guide Laura on a leisurely hike through the podocarp forest to the sea. Podocarps are a type of conifer whose cones have modified over time to be more like berries. The berries are attractive to birds, which help to spread the seeds. Some say podocarps are from the time when New Zealand was part of the giant continent of Gondwana, over 85 million years ago. We heard several different bird calls, and spotted a few. The New Zealand fantail was probably the most impressive.

On the beach, we hunted for jade stones. New Zealand doesn't have jadeite, the stone we usually associate with jade, but they do have two other mineral forms of jade, or Pounamu (Maori name), also just called 'greenstone.' Gerry had given a presentation on jade the night before, and said he might find one piece a day, so we weren't too hopeful. Darryl may have found one, and there are plenty of green rocks to be found, which are generally serpentine.

In the afternoon, we did a combination hike and kayak. One of the lodge biologist guides took us through the forest, where we crossed a stream on a cable bridge (like Cazadero, Erin & Ryan!), showed us the eels again, then set us up with kayaks. We paddled maybe for 45 minutes past structures set up for whitebait fishing when they are in season. Whitebait are any of several types of small freshwater fish that are popular on menus in the south island. We haven't had a chance to try it yet.

Wrapping up the night, we couldn't resist joining Gerry's night walk again to see the glow-worms, and because the night was clear and this time we would be able to take in some serious stargazing. Gerry pointed out the Southern Cross, with its pointers -- Alpha Centauri and Beta Centauri. The Milky Way was vast and clear, and we also spotted the constellation of Serius, with the dog star (dog days of summer). We saw 8 satellites and 4 shooting stars. Another great ending to a day in this wild land on the west coast!Read more