The next day we were to visit a lush mountain forest
on this 3000 ha estate. The four of us got ready the next morning.
The local farm vehicle, an old Second World War jeep was to take
us up the mountain, a frightening experience as a road did not really
exist. Perhaps years ago a track was bulldozed, long since gouged
out by infrequent rains and rock slides, vegetation being scarce.
Of particular interest were the puyas P. hermata; its silvery rosette
leaves contrasting against the blue sky. Here their flower spikes
displayed their strange blue green flowers. Sudden splashes of bright
red colour were provided by the flowers of the Mutisia vine Mutisia
coccinea. Incessant bouncing of the jeep made sitting down impossible,
to prevent ourselves from being thrown out we held onto the roll
bar of the jeep while standing up. In this fashion we finally arrived
at the edge of a deep volcanic crater.
Kiwis In The Mist
