Game: Where-is-it? (international)

[johnw]

So you might have been on the Avon in Christchurch?

That's it eggs. This one was hardly remote bush but very pleasant anyway. We stayed a few nights in the CBD among the devastation and massive reconstruction work going on since the earthquake. One morning I hired a kayak for an hour, which cost all of $12, and had a nice time paddling the "four bridges" return route over a few kms past the botanic gardens et al. At times there was barely enough water keep from running aground. For anyone hesitant to visit Christchurch, they are keen for people to come as they rebuild. Only city I've stayed in where our hotel advertised a seismic rating of 5 as a selling point .

[eggs]

I actually have a few photos of the Avon along with some shots of the earthquake damage

We will stay with the rolling green hills of Ireland..

[johnw]

Well I can see some green on there . Cathedral Rocks on Inishnabro, Blasket Islands, County Kerry?

[eggs]

Yes John.
The Blasket Island cruise was very good. Weather was kind, the islands were spectacular and the wildlife was out in force.
A big goal of this trip was seeing the puffins, and they were abundant in the water and lining the slopes of this island.

[johnw]

Love the symmetry of those columnar cliffs.

USA:

"Hole in the rock" off Laniloa peninsula in La’ie Point State Wayside Park - La’ie, Oahu Hawaii USA

[johnw]

To narrow it down - offshore tropical USA

[GPSGuided]

'Hole in the rock' Oahu, Hawaii, right?

[johnw]

'Hole in the rock' Oahu, Hawaii, right?

Yes well done GPS. "Hole in the rock" at La’ie Point State Wayside Park, in the general vicinity of Oahu's famed North Shore. The small peninsula I'm on is known as Laniloa and there is a Hawaiian legend about the location explained on a plaque nearby.

[GPSGuided]

Thanks John. That drive loop going up north of Honolulu is lovely, a nice sample of the scenes of the Hawaii islands. And so much interesting native stories too.

The next moves us west across the international dateline to Asia, China and add some elevation. A most famed mountain and an UNESCO World Heritage site for both cultural and natural heritages. The photo depicts the classic view of the main climb. Extra points for knowing the name of that depicted structure.

[johnw]

I haven't been to China (except Hong Kong) but research suggests that this may be the "South Gate to Heaven" on Mount Tai (Taishan)?

[GPSGuided]

Well done John! Indeed the 'South Gate to Heaven' on Mt Tai and we took the climb for the first time back in Jan this year. A real knee breaker. It's one of five famed mountains of China and a centre of Taoist religion with many Taoist temples along the climb. The main climb track has 7200+ steps for around 1200m elevation change. Apart from temples, it's lined with poetic inscriptions carved into rock boulders from famed people going back for 2000+ years. The city at the base of Mt Tai (Tai'an) can be easily reached by HSR out of Beijing in 2 hours (450km).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Tai

[johnw]

Looks like a fascinating place GPS. My knees definitely scream at that many steps these days.


NZ again. This might be too easy so I'll ask for what I'm looking at in general, and where I'm standing.

Looking across Lake Wakatipu towards Ben Lomond and Queenstown from Walter Peak Station, Otago New Zealand

[eggs]

Lake Wakatipu looking at Ben Lomond and Queenstown maybe from Beach Point?

[johnw]

Lake Wakatipu looking at Ben Lomond and Queenstown maybe from Beach Point?

That's so close eggs that I have to give it to you. I'm standing on the beach at Walter Peak Station. We had a nice dinner there before returning to Queenstown on TSS Earnslaw.

[eggs]

Back to the UK

Fairy Pools with the Black Cullins behind, Isle of Skye

[johnw]

Struggling with this one. Something keeps wanting me to say Glencoe, maybe cascades on the River Coe. Peak at the back I don't know - was thinking one of the sisters but doesn't look right.

[eggs]

Yes - Glencoe was a delightful place and curiously about as moody as this when we went through - but I will have to post from there another day.
Not sure if I will get to write a trip report, so I will post another from this walk.
It is a tourist hotspot, but the parking is minimal and its a single lane road.
The attraction is a series of cascades and pools with this amazing water colour.

The range behind is considered by some to be the most rugged in the UK, but it gets part of its name from the rock colour..

[johnw]

Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye?

[eggs]

Yes John.
We were at the Fairy Pools coming off the Black Cullins, Isle of Skye

[johnw]

Another from USA:

Approaching the second tunnel descending Bright Angel trail - South Rim, Grand Canyon NP Arizona USA

[Graham51]

Pretty sure I walked down this track into Grand Canyon, South Rim.

[johnw]

Pretty sure I walked down this track into Grand Canyon, South Rim.

Yes Graham, from memory this is the second tunnel on the descent into the canyon on Bright Angel trail.

[Graham51]

Thanks John. I wouldn't have remembered the name of the trail as I in't spend enough time there.

Name this feature an/or where it is - also in USA.

[Caedo12]

Looks like the trail leading up Moro Rock in Sequoia National Park

[Graham51]

Looks like the trail leading up Moro Rock in Sequoia National Park

That's because that's what it is.

[Caedo12]

Thanks Graham,
Where was I standing here, and for bonus points, what mountain am I looking at in the distance? (USA)

[johnw]

Having been to the same spot makes this a bit easier. You are at Mirror Lakes in Yosemite Valley looking at Mt Watkins. Half Dome is out of view on your right.

[Caedo12]

Yep that's it. Taken in a time of very high water

[johnw]

Thanks Caedo, I just finished reading one of John Muir's Yosemite books on my Kindle. Love to go back and explore more widely.

Back to the land of the long white cloud:

Trident Creek Falls off the valley track at Franz Josef Glacier - Westland Tai Poutini NP, Franz Josef/Waiau New Zealand

[Caedo12]

Trident Creek Falls at Franz Joseph Glacier