FSO - Steam, Smoke or Fire

I couldn't find the fire.  Couldn't even find the smoke from the fire. No doubt the guys in the fire engine knew where it was. 

 But I knew where to find steam, dived into my archives and fished out a few from down around Rotorua, where thermal springs and mud pools abound.  This one is from Waimangu Thermal Valley, an excellent tourist destination, just south of Rotorua.  When I visited here with my brother and his family we had an 'interesting' time finding the place as I thought my niece had directions and she thought I knew where it was.  We went up and down the same stretch of road so many times a man hitchhiking at the side of the road started to recognise my car and give us a wave as we passed.  

As we walked through one the youngest eco-systems in the world we veiwed a range of geothermal activity, newly forming silica terraces and rare and unusual thermal plants.

 The next two are taken from a boat doing a tour on Lake Rotomahana.  The 1886 Mt Tarawera Eruption changed Lake Rotomahana dramatically, exploding it to 20 times its size. The lake now covers approximately 15 coalescing craters formed during the eruption. Fifteen years after that massive eruption, the lake reached its current height and is now the deepest in New Zealand's North Island. Lake Rotomahana is the newest of all New Zealand’s larger, naturally formed lakes – protected as a wildlife refuge, it's home to large numbers of birds all year round.  Wikipedia

It's a beautiful lake and has its own separate geothermal system, with amazing themal activity that can only be seen from the water.  It is claimed to be one of New Zealand's most beautiful, unspoilt, natural wilderness areas.  I certainly wouldn't argue with that. The lake and surrounding land are protected from development.

 On the same trip with Peter, Jude and Charlotte I took what I thought was a wrong turn and drove up a road beside the Wairakei Power Station, then decided to see where the road went.  We were pleasantly surprised when we came to a look-out where we could look down over the power station where they harness all that geothermal energy. 

I imagine the more creative amongst us will have some great images for this topic.  If you'd like to see them, they will be here.  Or better still, why not join us?

I have a feeling that choosing the Spotlight Photo this week won't be easy.  I really liked how Cheryl had a theme going when she put together her Spotlight photos from last week.  Good luck this week, Danielle. 

And after a long absence....

My blogging has been practically non-existant lately.  There have been other things on my mind. 

For a while I was playing tour guide for my brother, Peter, his wife, Judy and daughter, Charlotte.  We did the touristy things and had a great time.  

I was sad to say farewell to them all.  But I have to admit my mind was already on something else - my youngest daughter was already overdue to give birth.

But finally, in the early hours of Monday morning little Aiden finally arrived. After 17 years, I have another grandson!

 

My grandsons meet

Unfortunately by the time he joined us, it was nearly time for me to head home to go back to work, so I've only had him in my arms for a few short minutes.  

I knew that there had been heavy rain in the north while I was away but I still got a surprise when driving home yesterday evening to find part of the hillside sitting in the road.

 

Over the past year or so I've posted photos of the Bridge to Somewhere:

When we have a flood it becomes the Bridge to Nowhere:

Now, sadly, it has seen one flood too many.  Yesterday evening I changed its name to Once a Bridge: