This cache is a safe Travel Haven for travel bugs and
geocoins. So that all Cachers have the chance to help a TB on
its journey, you are encouraged to check in trackable items at the
same time as you check some out. However, Travel Bugs are meant to
travel, so if possible please help a travel bug to move along
quickly.
NOTE TO ALL VISITORS: Please remember to mention in your log
if you remove any trackables and sign your name. The travel bugs
and geocoins are NOT trading items, do not keep them. They belong
to someone who is following their travels.
Cache is a 3L Sistema container in camo bag, containing log book
and pen, copies of the Legend and an assortment of trading goodies
for exchange.
THE LEGEND OF THE MOUNTAINS.
Long ago there were a great number of mountains in the heart of
Te Ika-a-Maui, the North Island of Aotearoa (New Zealand). Far more
than you see today. Like gods they stood here and Tongariro was the
chief of them all, but in those far-away days the lofty snow-capped
Taranaki lived here too. He stood where the round lakes Nga Puna
Tamatea (Tama Lakes) now lie, and beside him stood Tauhara and
Putauaki(Mt. Edgecombe). All these mountains were gods and
warriors, and all male except for one. Her name was Pihanga and she
still stands here today as the gently rounded eastern buttress of
the Kakaramea Range. Her richly coloured robe of forest is held
closely about her womanly form.
All the warrior mountains loved Pihanga and each wished her to
become his wife. But the one she favoured most was Tongariro,
crowned by the summit of Ngauruhoe. Tongariro was determined to
have Pihanga for his own and turned on the other mountains to drive
them away. A fierce battle developed and the landscape was burned
and scarred as fiery rocks were thrown and the mountains heaved in
combat.
Tongariro was victorious. He fought the other mountains and
defeated them. Pihanga was his.
The defeated mountains debated amongst themselves about where
they should go. They said to each other, "We must separate, we
should go this way and that, for Pihanga now belongs to Tongariro
and we have no place here."
Tauhara and Putauaki, who stood where Rotoaira Lake is now,
agreed. "Yes we will leave immediately and go to where the sea
looks towards the rising sun." They had decided to head towards the
Bay of Plenty where there was room for mountains. Taranaki decided
to go west.
The mountains parted. They uprooted themselves and began their
travels, crying their farewells to Pihanga as they went. "Remain
you here O Pihanga," they said. "We are going away."
They travelled all through one night. It was a magic pilgrimage
through the hours of darkness; the only time when spirits and
mountains can journey. Taranaki travelled fast and angrily and at
daylight he halted at the sea coast where he now gazes towards the
setting sun.
Putauaki was halted by the dawn when he had travelled the
greater part of his journey east. He now stands at the northern end
of the Kaingaroa Plain looking down on the wide valley of the
Rangitaiki. He is the Ngati Awa’s sacred mountain. A great
cone of green and blue, his quiet crater holding a little lake.
But Tauhara was the slowest of Pihanga’s admirers. He
travelled with tardy, lingering steps. He paused many times to gaze
towards his lost love. When daylight came and stopped his march he
had reached the place where he still stands, near the shores of
Taupo Moana (Lake Taupo). He eternally looks back across the lake
at the beautiful Pihanga.
FTF honours go to: secretsquirrelnz