the pineapple track

Hey all,

Last Saturday before going to ultimate we finally hiked the pineapple track. The track goes up to the top of Flagstaff hill which overlooks Dunedin. This was our third attempt to hike the track after two prior attempts failed due to poor planning and our running out of time. It was a nice hike up through stands of native bush to the tussock and flax covered hilltop. We had lunch up near the top before heading down for our regular Sunday ultimate game. (Although for future reference it's impossible for me to run fast after hiking all morning). Here's the pics (you may have noticed that some of the pics in here seem to have gotten a lot better in quality. You noticed right. Several of these were taken with Drea's new camera)...

Interesting tidbit from the New Zealand Travel website: "The Pineapple Track is a walk along Dunedin's skyline with magnificent views of the city and Taieri Plains. It passes through the tussock country above the tree line of Flagstaff Hill.The Flagstaff Hill vantage point, high above the harbour and inland plains, proved useful in pioneering times. When a ship was entering the harbour, a flag was raised on the hill signalling the ship's arrival to the people on the plains and surrounding areas. Given the shortage of women at that time, bachelors from the Taieri Plains would make a hasty journey to the port in hope of getting a wife. The Pineapple Track's name comes from much later. In the 1920s a local grocer guided people up the track and provided a snack of tinned pineapple for the hikers when they rested at the top of a steep section. They would often leave the tins hanging on trees or fences."

Drea and Coco relaxing in the back yard.