Tuesday’s Travels

Leaving the unit each morning I have an exhilarating feeling of freedom and adventure.  I think this is to do with starting out on foot, which always seems like a ‘real’ journey.

Today I headed north past substantial dwellings, many with intricate iron lacework, some dilapidated,  some beautifully painted.  The shallow front gardens tend to harbour enormous mature trees, which often block the sunlight.  I guess the houses are mainly student flats where gardening is a low priority for both occupiers and owner.  In one place I saw a convolvulus that had taken over a Japanese anemone. 

Convolvulus in Cumberland Street

There are signs in windows saying “Flat taken 2009″ to discourage further applicants.

It’s great to see the re-use of old buildings.  An art deco service station has become a bakery

Art Deco Bakery

and St Lee’s Church is now a restaurant and cinema.

St Lee's Restaurant and Cinema

I passed a house with two broken mirrors on the footpath.  Are these residents facing fourteen years of bad luck?

The sign at the entrance to the Botanical Gardens Herb Garden said “You are welcome to pick small samples to smell during your visit” and I availed myself of a sprig of what I took to be a flowering sage, though I couldn’t see a label or discern a sagey smell.  At 9.30 a.m. on a cloudy day the daisies had not yet opened but the birds were wide awake and twittering, and the trees magnificent.

I climbed through the beguiling scents of the arboretum to the Aviary.  Often these are Victorian edifices but this one was opened in 1986.  It’s sad to see birds in cages, even large cages, however this aviary is being used to breed native birds, especially kea, for release into the Orokonui Ecosanctuary.  There are also colourful exotic birds including parrots and black cockatoos.  Signs said there were Indian Ringnecks, but I didn’t see any of these. 

A sign on the cage of the Splendid Parakeet had been donated by the Southland Building and Investment Society.  It’s a pity they didn’t proofread well enough to notice that in one part the spelling said splended.   There was good information about dangers to habitats, e.g. clearing of Indonesian native rainforest to plant palm tree oil crops.

One white sulphur-crested cockatoo was very chatty saying “Hello”, “Who’s a pretty boy”, and “What’s up Doc?”.  Another, named Sid, invited me to “Have a cup of tea”.  This seemed like a good idea and as there were a few spots of rain I headed back downhill to find a more sheltered place to sit.

Along North Road I was delighted to discover Tagg, a shop with “fashions for real women sizes 16+”, with a good selection.  I bought three garments, all made in New Zealand.  After all, my horoscope today said I should pay attention to my appearance!

On to Baldwin Street, certified by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s steepest street. 

The world's steepest street

Its steepest section has a gradient of 1 in 2.86.  The nearby former Post Office (1914) sells souvenirs and certificates.  I didn’t purchase the latter as I hadn’t climbed to the top.  I could see skid marks on the road surface, and hate to think how the brakes on the cars of the residents must fare.  Having already walked more than 8,000 steps that morning I was glad to catch a bus that took me all the way to St Clair beach for just $2.90.  It was good to see the driver twice get out to load on prams for mothers with babies.  I imagine this happens in Christchurch too, but I never see it.

As I settled to eat my lunch on the beachfront the sun came out and the temperature rose towards the forecast 24 degrees.  The only people in the water were surfers in wetsuits and a sign warned of the dangers of rip currents, but the beach was just beautiful with its long stretch of golden sand. 

St Clair Beach, Dunedin

I guess those who want to swim use the adjacent salt water pool.

Another bus ride took me back to the motel for a relaxing cup of tea and a chance to do the day’s crossword, then it was back to the Octagon to view the Rita Angus exhibition, which I loved.  Her “Tree” has long been one of my favourites and there were so many other paintings, some familiar and some new to me.  Her feminism and pacifism are a feature of much of her work and her many self portraits give added interest.

It was good to have the Gallery almost to myself.  This exhibition is coming to Christchurch next, but there I would probably be able to go only on a weekend and there would be crowds.

“Today I travelled far and wide
on foot, and via a bus ride.”