So I did it!!
The hike to the top starts with a steep walking trail, and then mixes in a lot of steps and switchbacks. I had to stop and suck wind way too many times! Naturally I tried to make it look like "oh this is no problem, I am just stopping to take pictures", but I am sure the locals saw right through that ;-)
So, here we go... these pictures were taken on the hike to the top.
Just starting out. The main beach can be seen below. In between is a campground with quite a few spots and as you can see, quite a few patrons. This was early October - still quite chilly here. October is entering spring time in New Zealand (remember, opposite of the midwest going into fall). I had to stop for a picture of the sheep with lambs, little did I know how many more I would see on the downhill trek...
This is another path starting the trek, but it goes up more steeply with a series of stone steps.
This big freighter was heading out into the Pacific. Loaded up at the Port of Tauranga no doubt (where I work, but there are many companies there so not necessarily a ship loaded by crews from my employer).
A resting moment along the hike up, looking through the trees down at the main beach. Yes, I was stopping to get my breath.
still higher....
At the top!
The island connected to the beach is Moturiki. I hiked it shortly after arriving in New Zealand. At that time I thought it was hard on the old cardiovascular system. Twas nothing compared to the Mount.
See the other 'hill', inland from Moturiki? That is Mt Drury that I hiked up the previous weekend. Mt Drury has the Rotary International marker on top showing the nautical miles to New York (a pic i previously posted). Again, Mt Drury was a bit hard, but as you can see, that is a mole hill compared to Mt Maunganui.
This next shot is looking down along the trail I came up. Seemed only moments before I was walking that trail. This is on the Pacific Ocean side.
Traversing along the top of the Mount, I start looking at the downward trek which will take me back to the Pilot Bay side. This picture is looking away from the Pacific, but not exactly at Pilot Bay yet. You can see a bit of the trail below that I will be walking.
Looking back at the peak where I was moments before.
Tugboats and ships going into the bay.
I begin the journey down. This picture is looking out over the Port of Tauranga where I work.
These next shots made me think of my speech teacher in high school, he made us memorize Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken"
The downhill trek was pretty steep but it leveled off when I came out of the trees into the pasture area.... Oh look at all the sheep!!!
what a beautiful sky above the cute lambs.
Here's a big one looking at me as if to say "move along, move along"...
looking back along the trail. Gorgeous eh? ... the road not taken...
Just so beautiful, must be nice spending all day grazing in such a beautiful place...
little lambs...
this little guy seems to be saying "what are you doing?".
"really!! what are you doing, i want to know!"... I think he posed for me, what a cutie. Might have to start a sheep farm back home, probably better than a goat farm ;-)
in the background of the above picture, you can see i am getting closer to the bottom, to Pilot Bay.
Here behind the family of sheep you can see I am at eye level with the top stories of some of the apartment buildings in the background (these might be 7-10 stories high).
a couple parting shots of the cute lambs...
and I am down off the mountain... I trudge my way back to my apartment and am very very tired. A very good night of sleep followed.
