Following the intrapid walk under the influence of the unusual signpost, I had another good outing the very next day (Sunday 4th July). …

There were some distant clouds visible on norther horizon but otherwise fine still morning. I decided to have another longish walk and packed some lunch, jacket and water bottle in my day pack. I wanted to go up to the Rocky Knob, my favourite walk destination, for the first time in 6 months or so.

My walk that day, as many other ones, started at Otari Native Botanic Garden. The rocky gardens and green looks very different in the morning sun,and the hills behind, my destination, looked brighter and beckoning. I went down to still frosty picnic area, crossed the low bridge over Kaiwharawhara stream, and started walking up the Blue Trail. Walking under the dense forest canopy, track was dark and the air cool, but the spots of sunlight told me the day was nicely warming up. Soon I reached the highest point of Blue Trail and took an alternative route that brought me up to the familiar crossroad in a stand of pine plantation.

A two minutes walk uphill brought me to the edge of open farming country. The regular track follows the farm access road, but my regular route goes straight up the slope to the rocky knob. I don't think its common, but the prospect of great view on top of a hill on a fine day has a strange effect on me, not unlike the effect of carrots dangling in front of a horse 😀 Though the hill looks big from this angle, it was only 10 minutes before I got to top. There I took a few pictures (see them in my photo album), and took in the views.

It was remarkably warm for winter, with only sight breeze. After some photography-ing, I walked further 5 minutes to a slightly higher and flatter peak north. There I sat down, ate my lunch, and had a lovely nap under the sun. :zzz:

Unfortunately soon it became somewhat breezier and tool cool for an extended snooze. I packed up and took a shortcut an went straight down to the new route I discovered only a day before. Then I followed another shortcut I knew of, which took me from the basic stile down to the Blue Trail less than 10 minutes from the bottom. It was still quite warm when I got home. I had the second lunch of pea and ham soup and toast, and enjoyed the warm afternoon sun.