Friday 14 September 2012

FSO - weather

The day to day meteorological conditions, esp temperature, cloudiness, and rainfall, affecting a specific place. 

The specific place I've been this past week is in Tarannaki which is way south of where I live.  To me the weather here is all about the mountain, beautiful Mt Taranaki, whether I can see it or not.  The locals have a saying which is something like, "If you can see the mountain, it's not raining."  That proved true for the first four days I was here, then when it did come out to play there was a jolly cloud hanging around that simply would not go away.  I hope these photos don't take too long to download, can't figure out how to reduce them on my son-in-law's computer.

The cloud is lifting:


Just a little wisp left:


Then finally, at the end of day 6, just before dark, there he is in all its beauty.  We know he is a he because of this beautiful legend.

In Māori legend, Taranaki is a mountain being that lived peacefully for many centuries in the centre of New Zealand's North Island with three other mountains, Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu.
Nearby stood Mount Pihanga. Covered in a cloak of deep green forest she presented a stunning sight and all the mountain gods were in love with her.
Taranaki dared to make advances to Pihanga and was reproached by Tongariro and a mighty battle ensued between them. The earth shook and the sky became dark as the mountains belched forth their anger. When the battle ended the lovely Pihanga stood close by Tongariro's side. Taranaki, wild with grief and jealously, angrily wrenched his roots from the ground and left the other mountains.
Weeping, he plunged towards the setting sun, gouging out a deep wide trench. When he reached the sea he turned north and stumbled up the coast. As he slept that night the Pouakai Ranges snared and trapped Taranaki in the place he now rests.
The next day a stream of clear water sprang from the side of Tongariro. It flowed down the deep scar Taranaki had left on his journey to the coast to form the Whanganui River.
There are those who say that Taranaki is silently brooding and will one day try to return inland again to fight Tongariro. Consequently many Māori were wary of living in the area between the mountains.

Love that legend and personally think little Mount Pihanga needed her head read, she should have just run off with Taranaki rather than causing all that trouble.  Then again, maybe she enjoyed the attention.


This one was on the camera, my mountains up north, taken weekend before last from the back of the farm as I turned to head for home and realized there was rain in the mountains and that I'd probably get wet before I made it home.  (I didn't, my daughter-in-law happened along on the farm quad and gave me a lift.)  I got a couple of good storm shots last weekend but, in my first effort to download on to this computer, deleted them.  Ahh well.


I haven't had time to visit everyone from last week's shoot out yet but I will get around everyone when I get back home.  Meanwhile, check out the weather from the rest of the team.

16 comments:

  1. some fantasic shots there - what a beautiful mountain

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  2. Absolutely stunning images!

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  3. Mountains make such interesting weather around them.

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  4. What a stunning mountain. I enjoy reading legends like that.

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  5. Beautiful photos,Pauline.

    You rwemind me of a Lake District saying - "If you can't see Skiddaw (a high by Lakeland standards), it's raining. If you can see Skiddaw it's about to rain."

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  6. Beautiful pics. Didn't Mt Taranaki used to be called Mt Egmont? Vague memories stirring here. The legend you posted is interesting, too. Thanks for that.

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  7. You are right Barb. I resisted the change from Egmont but I now think Taranaki is a better name for him, especially when I think of the legend.

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  8. What a wonderful tale and your photos as usual are outstanding. No mountains in my neck of the woods we just have Knobs, lots of hills covered in trees.
    QMM

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  9. Beautiful, Pauline! Love the legend as well.

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  10. Stunning pics of Mt Taranaki. Hope the weather there is good - was very overcast here and we had a spattering of rain as well.

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  11. nice post, sounds like your vacation is turning out well - yes these mountains generate their own weather. is it considered 'live' by the legioned sounds like it. and that little wisp of clouds looks like the smoke on both Pucon's volcano and mt etna.

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  12. beautiful photos, reminds me I must go out with the husband instead of complaining about the cold.

    Pauline, how do you get such big photos on your blogs?

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  13. Gorgeous scenery!! I love that snow covered mountain!

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  14. Mt Taranaki is a splendid mountain and is such a magnificent landmark especially when flying anywhere in the North Island. I've never seen him with so much snow.

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