Waves

These fierce looking waves are lapping around an aquarium near the new jetty in Kaikoura.
I assume they are waves not a closeup view of a circular saw blade. The table is an ex cable reel, that carries on the watery theme with a more realistic colour pallet. Sadly the aquarium was closed when we breezed past, I'm looking forward to returning to see what hardy aquatic life forms are out there braving those waves.

Monument

There are many hunks of rock scattered throughout the country's back roads commemorating some historical event. Quite often the event is of very local interest, almost like they are a marketing tool for that district. This one is dedicated to a a man who became a folk hero to many young struggling want to be farmers and others who felt they were out side what was then a very divided and class based society.  He also had a loyal dog which probably tugged at a few heart strings.

Yuccas

I spent about an hour just wandering amongst these yuccas and cabbage trees, totally mesmerized by the almost cartoonish wonder of their shapes. I suspect there were once a few homes on this piece of land next to the railway line that runs along the east coast of the South Island. This landscape has a feel that it would be a great backdrop for a movie. I must return and see what it's like with different light.

Cattle stop

Cattle stops are a fiendish use for old railway tracks. They not only halt the progress of cows they pretty much stop all hoofed beasts. A harsh yet amusing way to wake a passenger in your car, is to speed up as you go over one. The bone shaking vibration and noise will either rudely rouse them from their slumber or induce a myocardial infarction.
Note the way the power poles on the ridge are like strolling body builder robots.

Paw

The ancestors of this creature having been roaming the hills of the South Canterbury region since around 1874. Rarely are they seen during the day. They bound about during the black of night seeking nourishment. Many have succumbed to instant lead poisoning. Declared a pest they are hunted.
I stumbled across this corpse when I was checking out the Mackenzie pass after completing a job in the the neighborhood. I lived in Wiamate (South Canterbury) as a very young boy while my father was a teacher there. Tales of this Australian invader lurking behind every tussock intrigued me. I never saw one in the wild. Imagine my excitement when I saw this fresh carcass on the side of the road. Who knew Red Neck Wallabies had such menacing looking front paws.

Kitten

We seem to attract monochromatic felines. Furdinand is the fourth cat that we have had All have been either grey and white, black & white, solid grey or silver tabby. He's only eight weeks old so he's being confined to one room only till he gets used to all the noises and smells, of which there are many, some dubious. Hopefully he may turn into one of kleptomaniac cats that's collects stuff from all over the neighborhood. He's already attracted to shiny metal, so maybe cash and jewellery will appear on the doorstep.