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.