Heartland Flyer

On Sunday, a mere 14 hours before the earthquake that closed all the railroad tracks, we boarded the Heartland Flyer in Paekakariki (pronounced pie-ka-ka-ree-kee) and headed north through the Manawatu Gorge up to Woodville and back.

The train is run by Steam Incorporated and, despite the weather, it was a fun and relaxing ride.

There was an old shunter on hand to get us started.

Each car has been lovingly restored in different styles. If you are interested in these lovely cars and engines, click here on their website, then click on  the 'locomotives and rolling stock' tab on the left. 

Hubby took this fabulous shot!


Sunday Pleasure

Saturday Snapshot

Show me your Sunday

last train shots

These are the last of the photos that I am posting about our train trip 

with KiwiRail Scenic Routes.

Hubby was getting artistic with the camera and a tunnel :)

Show me your Sunday

Weekend Picture

This is what happens...

...when Hubby takes photos!

Seasons

Show me your Sunday

Weekend Picture

light through the clouds

Show me your Sunday

Weekend Picture

Seasons

backroad scenes

I thought I'd show you a few last bits of scenery from our trip on the backroads.  

There are pine trees everywhere. The Department of Conservation grows them commercially as well as private farmers because they grow super fast here.

I always look for wild goats for some reason.

Mt Taranaki looked a bit spooky as it was shrouded in clouds as the sun went down.

As we made our way back home, the changes of the clouds were interesting.

Show me your Sunday

Seasons

Scenic Weekends

hollard gardens

We wandered around at Hollard Gardens this week for the first time in ages. It was fun to see the color that is still around with our very warm autumn.

Mosaic Saturday

Show me your Sunday

having fun in the garden

We recently got a new couch and the old furniture sat on the porch for a while until we got around to disposing of it. So, one afternoon, Hubby had the old couch set up in the garden when I got home from the store for a photo with the mountain in the background. I thought it was really sweet.

But, then, while I was busy, he went one step farther and hung it up on the trees for a laugh!

Show me your Sunday

Lovin' Life

Maple Hill Hop

My story of the Three Sisters

For those that don't google things asked why there were only 2 Sisters in my photo but are called Three Sisters.

Once upon a time, along the coastline of Taranaki, there were four 'stacks'. It seems that they had no name but were still beautiful to see.  After the turn of the 20th century, one was reclaimed by the ocean, leaving what were eventually given the name of the 'Three Sisters' and people came from far and wide to take their photograph . Click here to see a photo.

 In 2003, one of the sisters disappeared in a storm but no one had the heart to call them Two Sisters. That would have been a cartographer's nightmare and there was so much signage that would have to be changed.

Eventually, a third stack arose again, as  pictured below, but apparently, it wasn't good enough to be called a Sister.

And then, sometime in 2014,  after much erosion and hard work by the ocean, an appropriate 'Sister' emerged from the coastline. The local newspaper declared that it was, indeed, a new addition to the family and now the Sisters are three again. 

We shall watch with bated breath to see if it becomes an animal companion to the lone elephant that keeps the Sisters company.

The end.

Check out that View

Show me your Sunday

Sunday in my City

the upside to rain

Show your Sunday           Scenic Weekends

Wild Moments           Catching Light