Taking advantage of a window of relatively fine weather, I had an extended lunch time walk in the Wellington Town-belt. The walk started at an unassuming road end 20 minutes on foot from my house.
…
Another 10 minutes from the roadend, top of Tinakori Hill was reached
From here, I walked down the other side of the hill, hoping to find the track that lead to today's destination, Stellin Memorial Park. East (City) side of Tinakori Hill has some extensive pine plantation. Further down there are some clearing created by the storm of February 2004, where some extensive panoramic views of the city greet you.
At this stage, I realised I descended farther than I'd expected and had to climb up quite a bit to go back to the sidle track to my destination. Finally, taking about a half an hour longer than I'd anticipated, I arrived at Stellin Memorial Park.
As you see in the memorial plaque, James Stellin was killed during the WW2 in France. The information board by the plaque tells you he was killed while trying to steer away his failing plane from the village of St Maclou la Briere, and was posthumously awarded the Croix de Guerre avec Palme.
His memorial park has a great lookout and is one of the hidden gems of Wellington for the walkers.
[Update 6 July]
I've prepared more detailed panorama pictures of above elongated and rather distorted image, which was also reduced in size on the album due to the width restriction:
[Update] 19 November 2010
Found a newsletter article about dedication of the Stellin Memorial plaque:
http://townbelt.wellington.net.nz/documents/StellinMemorialAug2008.pdf
Nice blog, I like the photos
Thanks, DH. Simple point & shoot camera pictures, joined up with a panorama stitching software. Nothing to compare your semi-professional quality pictures, but still bi-products of some sweaty skin and muscle pain. (I do have achy legs today.) I was lucky with the weather. There were some passing showers in the morning. Clouds closed in again by 3pm and started to rain by 5.
I don't see any parliamentary building in those pictures :p
You would need very good eyesight to be able to see wellington from there :yikes:
😆
:bye:
This album – http://my.opera.com/darkesthour/albums/show.dml?id=1526831was all done with a little point and shoot. I didnt have to walk to far either 😆
I am outta here, ttfn
Stunning photographies and the story of James Stellin has found a nice place. I'm going to the other posts and am adding your blog as favourite, it seems to be of a new type . :happy:
Hey thanks. Now I'm under pressure to produce the result, aren't I? 😀 The idea to post a story about Stellin Memorial actually came from you. I never had a French acquaintance, and having met you sort of made me notice the French connection of the memorial. And you were the one told me to get out with my camera 😉 Cheers
Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:
A happy life, I presume 😀 Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:
As I wrote to Deb, common details that make your habits can be very exotic, even an adventure to a foreigner. On the other side knowing Darkest made NZ closest to me, that's the great thing to take from this "My Opera". Now the problems will come if one day you write "you were the one told me to learn French", some tried, and many got lost :awww: But for the moment, I saw you as a lucky one to have the sea and the mountains !
Seen from thousands of kilometers, the risk is very very low ; and while you are eating I am sleeping, so I am not aware of the terrible hazards that threaten you from your plates and table. :chef:
Originally posted by arduinna:
Looks like I've got your permission to write about food more 😀
😆
[Updated 6 July]Added more detailed pictures showing panoramic views from Stellin Memorial, to East, South and West. 🙂
Found another kiwi French connection on today's news