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Tall hills and ridges advanced and retreated, turned in a great slow Morris dance. High rocks and shadowy hollows hung with blue; green humps and ridges; slopes the colour of hay or of moonlight; the frown of forests.*
And it's time again to join Nor' West Arch Morris Dancers for their annual weekend of dance at Hanmer Springs.
That's only an hour and a half's drive from the Secret Garden but every inch of it feels like one of the World's greatest road trips.
Through farmland...
where modern methods have replaced old fertility magic.
By sinuous rivers braiding wide shingle reaches...
as old as time.
Though sometimes the braids unite...
marshalling power and concentrating one's attention.
There's a grand hotel at the end of the road...
for Kitty and me.
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But we are here for the dancing
and the music.
There will be time to play...
when we have danced ourselves silly.
Then it's time to enjoy the soothing thermal waters and admire the recently opened views to the old Queen Mary Hospital complex.
* Opening passage: from The Nargun and the Stars by Patricia Wrightson.
10 comments:
It's certainly a very beautiful country.
I really enjoy watching Morris dancing. When I lived in the UK, we would often go out to some countryside pub' at the weekend and sit watching them; pint in hand. Perfect.
You all look like you had such a great time in the sun Lady.
Oh, those rivers look soooo inviting too. I'd have had to make a few stops on that road trip. :-)
Cro Magnon: The light on the mountains that morning was breathtaking. Glad to hear that you enjoy a spot of Morris dancing, pint in hand ;-)
Chris: Eyeing up the salmon spots eh? The temperatures were hotter than we've had all summer, but the the weather conditions that cast the wonderful light on the mountains also brought wild and tiring wind. Fun in the sun all the same :-)
the "crossed sticks" photo is amazing!
Gee thanks John. I only realised that the old hospital chimney was thrusting into the shot when I'd got it onto my computer screen.
Great piccies! That top one is very majestic. I lived in Cheltenham for a year and saw loads of Morris dancers, had no idea there was scores of them in NZ as well!
This is such a lovely post full of beauty - those mountains and rivers are wonderful - then joy, the music and dancing, followed by luxurious wallowing in the hot springs. What a wonderful time.
About Last Weekend: Glad you like the photos. With your Chch background you probably know that stretch of road after the ice-cream stop at Culverden:-)
At a rough count there are about 5 score of active Morris dancers and musicians in NZ.
the cuby poet: Thankyou Claire. I never cease to feel in awe of these mountains and rivers. And our life as troubadors is a sure way to see and experience (that damned wind) this spectacular country.
What a breath-takingly beautiful country...
From one spa town to another...
When are you coming over Steve?
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