Otari Wilson's Bush - Night 57

We awoke to a dark sky and howling winds. It looked, smelled, and sounded like rain, but as fate would have it, New Zealand is in a drought and no rain would fall today. We drove to Otari Wilson’s Bush, one of the last remaining stands of native timber in the Wellington. Our morning chores involved a lengthy hike on which we checked the status of numerous rat traps throughout the reserve.

Resetting the Trap

All seventeen stations remained free of victims. According to the team leaders, the rat trapping program at Otari Wilson hasn’t exactly been all that successful. The time wasn’t a complete waste though as the hike was great exercise and took us through some amazing forests, including underneath a massive 800-year old Remu tree, one of few such remaining behemoths in the area.

The wind continued to blow violently all day, but we didn’t notice it until we came out of the bush for lunch. Beneath our sweat-laden clothes, the brisk wind chilled our bones and

An 800-year old Monster

we quickly ate and rushed off to our afternoon activity. We split into two groups, one group weeding, while the other measured a section of planted trees in order to monitor growth. An hour later we swapped positions. On the way home, we took a detour through Jubilee Park in hopes of finding a Christmas tree, but none such luck would be had. We may have to break down and purchase one this weekend, for a home is not a home in December without the smell of a Christmas tree.

What I Learned Today: At times in my life I have been imbued with an atavistic, almost animal, sense of energy, a seemingly unstoppably need to run through the woods, climb trees, splash in the water…you know the feeling. Today was another one of those times. It could be the cool wind, the amazing natural setting, and the overall relaxation and joy that I have been experiencing over the past few months that have released this internal fire in me, but, regardless of the reason, lately I’ve been having this feeling much more often. I truly feel more in touch with some innate, often hidden side of human nature….and this is a good thing.

written by

exumenius on December 6, 2007 from Wellington, New Zealand

from the travel blog: Kiwis and Kangaroos

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