On our way south to the glow-worms' cave, we stopped for a little rest in the small art village of Pirongia, once named Alexandra but later re-named to avoid confusion with the larger and more well-known Alexandra on the South Island.
The boys were distinctly un-impressed with the galleries and shops that Pirongia had to offer, so after a snack we got back in the car. We were almost out of town when I noticed one of the characteristic blue 'this way to a scenic or historic landmark' signs pointing down a side street. REDOUBT, it said. What's a redoubt?, I wondered. I couldn't resist investigating.
I looked carefully for the whatever-it-was as I drove, but we just ended up dead-ended in a nondescript cul-de-sac with fenced pasture all around us. I noticed a sign on the fence and went to take a look.
Oh, so a redoubt is a fort or something? Is that it, up the hill there?
The fence had a hand-lettered sign saying, 'Please close all gates behind you'. I took that as an invitation to proceed, and hey, it's not like there's anyone around to stop us anyway. So we navigated a very cool sheep-proof (and very nearly boy-proof) stile and went to see what we've got here.
To save me writing a thousand words, here is what the redoubt looks like from the air. Imagine inside it a church, and the last hope of hundreds of pioneers who surely all knew the shortest route for their anticipated desperate dash for safety ahead of the predicted savage invaders.
Happily, this grim attack never materialised, and so the redoubt was abandoned and is slowly returning to the earth.
It's surrounded by a moat.
It was a great place to enjoy the beautiful day and to take in some nice farmland views.
We walked all the way around the perimeter of the redoubt, on top of its walls. I reminded the boys over and over to be careful about where they were walking, so that they wouldn't take a tumble. I wish I had listened to my own advice, because in a moment of inattention I went bum over teakettle into a thornbush! Got a couple of little scratches on my arm, but the grass was so thick and soft that I was spared any real harm. Arram shrieked with alarm when he saw me fall, but when he almost immediately saw that I was OK, he laughed until he had to sit down and rest.
The boys were distinctly un-impressed with the galleries and shops that Pirongia had to offer, so after a snack we got back in the car. We were almost out of town when I noticed one of the characteristic blue 'this way to a scenic or historic landmark' signs pointing down a side street. REDOUBT, it said. What's a redoubt?, I wondered. I couldn't resist investigating.
I looked carefully for the whatever-it-was as I drove, but we just ended up dead-ended in a nondescript cul-de-sac with fenced pasture all around us. I noticed a sign on the fence and went to take a look.
Oh, so a redoubt is a fort or something? Is that it, up the hill there?
The fence had a hand-lettered sign saying, 'Please close all gates behind you'. I took that as an invitation to proceed, and hey, it's not like there's anyone around to stop us anyway. So we navigated a very cool sheep-proof (and very nearly boy-proof) stile and went to see what we've got here.
To save me writing a thousand words, here is what the redoubt looks like from the air. Imagine inside it a church, and the last hope of hundreds of pioneers who surely all knew the shortest route for their anticipated desperate dash for safety ahead of the predicted savage invaders.
Happily, this grim attack never materialised, and so the redoubt was abandoned and is slowly returning to the earth.
It's surrounded by a moat.
It was a great place to enjoy the beautiful day and to take in some nice farmland views.
We walked all the way around the perimeter of the redoubt, on top of its walls. I reminded the boys over and over to be careful about where they were walking, so that they wouldn't take a tumble. I wish I had listened to my own advice, because in a moment of inattention I went bum over teakettle into a thornbush! Got a couple of little scratches on my arm, but the grass was so thick and soft that I was spared any real harm. Arram shrieked with alarm when he saw me fall, but when he almost immediately saw that I was OK, he laughed until he had to sit down and rest.
8 comments:
What a gorgeous adventure! The very best are the totally unexpected. I remember a number of funny adventures as a child with my Mom. The boys will remember your tumble for many years. I am just glad that you were okay so it could be funny and not sad. I have learned something today also from your extremely descriptive blog. Thank you for sharing. Love to all.
There is NO DOUBT that you had another wonderful adventure! I love the pictures of the farmland and fields - complete with daisies blooming! They look so familiar and inviting to lay in the grass and watch the clouds.
Your bum-over-teakettle tumble must have been quite a sight! Glad you weren't hurt!
A ‘Redoubt’ is “A place of Retreat”
It’s a stronghold in case you are beat,
Is Alexandra’s still defended,
Since mom was upended?
Are there ghosts there that trip up one’s feet?
...Sorry Allie, sometimes the urge to write a limerick-like 5-line poem with anapestic meter overcomes me.
LOL! Love the limerick, Doug!!!!
Want to hear my story of my tumble?
I went to the local school to sub for an elem. teacher in the winter for the last half of the day. The secretary informed me that my class was outside for winter olympic games with other classes. I went out, asked for my class and went over there onto a 3' tall embankment they had built up for a platform for the games. As I watched and followed the class around, I had to climb down the embankment. I had on a long skirt and tripped on it and tumbled down the embankment in front of all those classes and all those other teachers! Very embarrassing! I was not hurt either, just my pride. Doug, write a limerick about that one! Allie, at least you didn't have an audience as big as mine! LOL
You didn't say which school it happened at, and I've taken some liberties with the lake's name, but...
Kathie’s pride was the only thing hurt,
(After all, there was snow on her skirt),
Classes all saw her tumbled,
And rise again humbled,
When she fell off the stands at Lake Burt.
i love what this little story has inspired everyone to share! dad, those limericks are just too good!
This redoubt must have been quite a formidable fortress and bristling with weapons and armor! The invaders would never have had a chance anyway...
commented 6/5/12
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