The Cow Jumped Over the Moon

I have not been using my words lately: they are slow, inadequate, and misspelled. Stuttter.  I have been periodically adding to my NZ Flickr set.  But I should really post more pictures more often.  All I want to do is drink apple cider.

For weeks in New Zealand, I silenced an embarrassing but pressing question.  I was certain that if I asked said question, my status as an adult would be immediately revoked, reducing me to the adorably naive age of four.  My insecurity of sounding like an idiot was more powerful than my interest in solving mysteries of the universe.  Looks are more important than brains.  

And then.

Last week I was in Los Angeles where there is no such thing as a stupid question. In fact, dumb ideas are profitable and appearing young is crucial.  Consistent with the unexpected harmony of the trip, my question was answered without ever having to ask.  I witnessed a wondrous event: the moon set. Cut in half, asleep on its back, it slumbered into the ocean. Red and orange.  Its reflection cast a line in the water, pulling earth and sky together.  It was a peculiar shadow for such a wide grin.  Until a glow, a flicker, a stuck pixel on the screen. 

Now I know where the moon goes at night.

Many moonless nights:

Wharariki Beach, NZ

Here, the [not so] invisible pain of battling a brutal beach storm.  The arsenal of sand travels on currents otherwise unseen.  I knew it was time to leave when I was knocked to my knees by a gust of wind.

 Wharariki Beach, NZ

The tranquil return from Wharariki Beach [being watched].

 

 TranzAlpine Train, NZ

Winter colors travel E - W.

 

 TranzAlpine Train, NZ

Mountains, always.

South Island, NZ

Green water en route to blue water.

 Abel Tasman National Park, NZ

Little living green things.

 Wharariki Beach, NZ

Colorful cave; Safe haven. 

 Abel Tasman National Park, NZ

 Spotted: Spotted Shag.

Doubtful Sound, NZ

Where it ends it also begins.

The Grove, Pohara, NZ

Do you see what I see?

Picture Pages

Time to get your crayons and your pencils:

West Coast South Island, NZ

The sign on the highway said something like: "Follow this road to see a white bird surrounded by endless awesomeness." So we followed.  Bird identification is not my thing so I turned to Google for help [as always].  My best guess: white heron/kōtuku.  According to the NZ DOC, spotting the white heron is rare and "has attained almost mythical status." 

Abel Tasman National Park, NZ

I kayaked past this little starfish creature and immediately stopped, scooped it out of the water, and took a picture. Don't worry, I put it back.  My kayak partner was one of the guides and he was AMAZING ... and did most of the paddling.

 

Franz Josef Glacier, NZ

There are people in this photograph. WHOAH! Scale.

The Grove, Pohara, NZ

The Grove is enchanted. I am serious.

Haast Blue Pools, NZ

Orange.

Haast Blue Pools, NZ

Crystal clear glacial water. 

Atlantic Avenue Terminal

Two minutes to go.
I'm sitting on the train; it's moving but it's not moving forward. The music from my headphones conflicts with the idling engine.  There are only a few people on the train - all of them men.  Everyone is looking down, no one is making a sound.
It's loud.

The transfer at Jamaica is timed, perfectly.
The train car squeaks and rattles with every bump like a buggy from the 19th century. It's old old school but bigger, faster, and more infrastructural.  Feeling every bump makes me motion sick; hearing every bump makes me want to get up and leave the car.  But I don't.
I turn my music up.

Life has been busy [nope, not in a good way] and my posts have waned.  I still have so many photos to share ... slowly.

On the hike to Wharariki Beach, NZ

Wharariki Beach, NZ

between Takaka and Wharariki Beach, NZ

black swans

Pohara, NZ

driftwood sculpture. so humanlike.

sunset Pohara, NZ