This morning we experienced something unique. We toured a potter’s personal paradise in the mountains. Barry Brickell quit teaching in the early 70’s, gradually acquired 60 acres of land in the coastal rainforest, and built an elaborate narrow gauge railway system throughout his property in order to haul clay down to his workshop. On his property he created party houses, sculpture gardens and a whimsical lookout tower he calls the “Eye Full Tower.” He takes people on an hour long ride through his property. What a whimsical wonderland!
This is the entrance to his property.
Entry garden
The beginning of the railway. The guy in blue is a Kiwi whom we befriended. He taught us how to pronounce Maori words. Every vowel is accented.
A video of his dream world, taken from his train
View from the top of his property
Lookout tower where he parties–the “Eye Full Tower”
Reflection pool on the top of the mountain. We kept wondering where the pot farm was located.
Examples of Barry’s pottery–lots of mammary glands adorn his property
Reminiscent of Georgia O’Keefe. What an unusual man, a real character. He now is replenishing his estate with native trees. He plans on fertilizing them with his remains after his death. He already has built his shrine on his property.
Some more Kiwi kitsch in Coromandel village
We decided to try some of the British food offered throughout NZ. Here is a Cornish pasty, served with chutney. Yesterday Pete ate one made of lamb. They are also served with mincemeat, cheese, fish and beef. The one above is made with beef and cheese. British fare is popular NZ: Ploughman’s lunch, shepherd’s pie, pasty are popular menu items.
In the late afternoon we took a moderately strenuous hour-long hike through the rainforest to Cathedral Cove. We timed our hike so that we arrived at the cove during low tide, which was scheduled to occur at 6:15. Low tide meant that we could walk through the limestone formations and catch them during sunset. Along the way we passed a field of grazing cattle.
Cathedral Cove
Walk through cove
Dramatic landscape
Pete looks so small in comparison to the enormity of the cove.
The other side of the cove
The entryway looks like a cathedral, hence the name of the cove
The return hike was scary because we had to walk back through the dark rainforest in the dusk. We were lucky to have timed this challenging walk perfectly. We made it back to the car as night fell. I am happy to have taken my trekking pole. Serious hikers use them here for stability and speed. Poles allow for an upper body workout as well as a lower body workout. You burn twice as many calories this way, too.
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