Mother Nature's Architecture

The Waitomo Caves are the most visited tourist attraction on the North Island. ‘Waitomo’ in the Maori language means ‘water hole,’ and it was by gradual water erosion that these limestone caves came to be formed more than 24 million years ago. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions sometimes disrupted the path of the water, and thus, the caves bend and curve, rise and fall. Stalactites hang – the result of water dripping from the ceiling – to form long formations of calcium carbonate. Stalagmites are the deposits that come up from the ground – the result of what drips from the stalactites. An imaginative mind will see figures in Mother Nature’s sculptures.

There are three caves in Waitomo that are open to visitors. The Waitomo Glowworm Cave was discovered by the Maori people long ago and open to the public in 1889. This cave tends to be the most popular of the three, as adults and children alike are enchanted by Arachnocampa luminosa – a species of glowworm unique to New Zealand. The mosquito-like adults live only a few days, and their sole purpose is reproducing, but the larva create what seems a dome of stars on the cave ceiling, as they emit light to attract food to the sticky strands hanging from their bodies.

The Aranui Cave was only just discovered in 1910 by a young Maori who was compensated, what was then, a satisfying 35 British pounds when he turned ownership over to the government. The Aranui Cave is perhaps the most spectacular of the three in terms of its stalactite and stalagmite formations. The most stunning stalactite hangs over 6 meters and has taken more than 400,000 years to form. Also, the colors of these formations dazzle the eye.

The Ruakuri Cave is the most recently opened cave due to land disputes between the government and the Maori people. It is the longest cave and boasts not only glowworms and rock formations but also underground rivers and waterfalls.

During my visit to Waitomo, I toured the Glowworm cave and the Aranui Cave. On my tour of the Glowworm Cave, the “ahhs” of children echoed as we walked through the caverns. We sang “Happy Birthday” in the ‘Cathedral’, where the acoustics are considered suburb and where choir concerts are held during the Christmas season. We walked our way along three levels of the cave and ended at the bottom where the Waitomo River runs through. The end of our tour was a gentle boat ride along the river to view the glowworms. Before we began, our guide told us that we had to stay quite on the boat because that would make the ride “magical.” I thought that a cunning way to keep the children quite the rest of the tour, but in fact, as we boarded the boat and commenced the journey, my neck cocked toward the ceiling and my eyes taking in the planetarium of glowworms, it did feel magical.

But, of the two caves I toured, I preferred the Aranui Cave. It was amazing to behold the ancient rock formations. While I was mesmerized by the ancient, Gothic cathedrals in Spain, the cave was an ancient architecture in a league of its own. I was truly in awe.

I made the trip to the Waitomo Caves in a day, and the trip was well worth the time in the car. On the way home, I made a stop at the Hamilton Gardens, which, given the season, were a bit anticlimactic after the caves. See pictures of the caves at my Shutterfly website.

Local Sites and Random Stories

1. Local Sites. It is probably a given from all of my blog entries that I have kept myself busy since I arrived in New Zealand. Almost every weekend, I have ventured about – from cities to natural wonders. It has only been of late that I remained in the Bay of Plenty for a weekend. Here is an account of some of the local sites.

As I have mentioned, I live in Te Puke – a small town about a half hour inland from the coast. Te Puke is a quaint town. There aren’t many exciting things to do here, and the locals will poke fun at it for this reason. But, should an outsider poke fun at Te Puke, these same people will come to its defense. The town was settled in 1881 when the ship Lady Jocelyn sailed into Tauranga harbor from London with 500 emigrants. (Te Puke is celebrated its 125th year this year.) There are probably some aspects of Te Puke that have not changed since that time, and I don’t think the storefronts have been renovated since the 1970’s. Nevertheless, in this region of Te Puke, the modern kiwifruit industry is in full-force; it is where I work; and it is where I rest my head.

Papamoa is the next town toward the coast from Te Puke. I have not spent much time in Papamoa, but there is a nice regional park named for it – Papamoa Hills. I have gone running at Papamoa Hills a couple of times. It’s a tough climb to the summit, but from there, the view is fantastic. Marcela and I went there one afternoon after work. Given the short days these winter months, we arrived at the top at dusk. The colors in the sky were fluorescent, and we lingered there to witness their change in splendor. Eventually, however, we decided it best to head back down. After all, if it was getting dark at the top, it would certainly be getting dark in the forest on the way down. Well, that was an understatement, because as we entered the forest, it was nearly pitch black. Armed only with Marcela’s cell phone and my camera, we use their faint window displays as our flashlights. At one point, we heard an animal scurry up the bark of a tree. I could barely see its silhouette, and not sure at the time whether skunks lived in New Zealand, we hurried on. When we finally got to the parking lot, we decided that what we had done probably wasn’t the most prudent thing to do and vowed we wouldn’t do it again or tell anyone about it. I have headed back to Papamoa Hills since that time, but during the day. Day or night, the view of the entire Bay of Plenty region is spectacular and worth the huffing and puffing on the way up.

Mount Maunganui is named for the giant mountain that erupts from the sea at the end of a peninsula where the town resides. “The Mount” – as the town is more familiarly known – is quite the beach resort in the summer, but even in the winter it hustles and bustles. Mount Maunganui is a nice place to recreate, and, as to be expected, I ran to the top. The view from there was also breathtaking.

Finally, Tauranga is the “big city.” With about 100,000 people, Tauranga is one of the largest cities in New Zealand, falling behind Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Hamilton. Many people have fled Auckland to live in Tauranga, which boasts a more pleasant climate and proximity to The Mount. But, for being a big city, I find it amusing that Tauranga is also a bit old fashioned, with retail businesses only open from 8-5 on weekdays and 9-3 on Saturday. It does have some nice restaurants, however, and when there is something I need, it is only about a half hour drive from Te Puke.

See pictures of these localities on my Shutterfly website.

2. I previously mentioned my flatmates, but the situation has since changed. Marcela decided to move out on her own a few weeks back, which leaves me here only with Nathan. Nathan is a nice enough guy. We have our differences, and our conversations are generally focused on either sports or kiwifruit (his family has an orchard), but over all, things are fine here.

3. My American friend, Liz, and I decided we had to do something for the 4th of July. We may be displaced Americans, but we haven’t lost our patriotism. So, despite a chilly, winter night, we did what seemed to be the All-American thing to do on the 4th of July – we had a BBQ. A couple of Liz’s Kiwi flatmates joined our celebration, and instead of having sparklers, we had an astronomy lesson. It was a fun time, but I will admit, it felt a bit strange celebrating American independence in a country that still celebrates the Queen’s birthday.

4. Though it perhaps didn’t “feel” like the 4th of July, it has felt a little like Christmas. We have had a number of frosts this winter, and people are calling this the coldest winter they’ve experienced in years. Driving home from a field expedition near Auckland one evening, I commented that with the cold weather, I felt like I should be preparing for Christmas. My colleagues couldn’t quite relate. “What do you mean? It’s not BBQ weather!” Ironically, just a few minutes later, we drove by a house with Christmas lights illuminated, adorning the eves.

5. Despite frosty nights, daytime temperatures rise when the sun is not obscured, making for very pleasant days. I have taken advantage of the nice days the last couple of weekends to do some fun sporting activities. Ocean kayaking was a thrill, especially when the waves were choppy, but I had a great time. A group of us went over to Pilot Island (I think that is what it’s called) – across from the Mount – where the water was a little calmer. The view of the Mount from there was grand – its magnitude put in perspective from water level. It was a radiant day, so the sun glistened off of the water, and colorful sails guided myriad boats. It was a gorgeous and fun way to spend a day in the Bay of Plenty. Another fun sporting fete, however, took me away from the water and further inland to the redwoods of Rotorua. The redwood park is expansive and an incredible asset for the city. There are trails for foot traffic, horses, and mountain bikes. I took a borrowed bike out to the trails and enjoyed a mountain biking adventure followed by some running. Three hours plus of intense physical activity meant that I slept very well that night.

6. Mystery Creek Field Days. New Zealand hosts the largest farm show in the Southern Hemisphere. I liken it to the International Farm Show in Tulare, California. Perhaps it is not quite as big, but it follows the same agenda. Businesses set up booths, demonstrations abound, and there is even a tractor pull. My brothers would be proud of me – I went to the tractor pull and even took pictures so they could see how they are done here. The tractors aren’t quite as “modified” as some seen in the U.S., and the pulling itself is done differently than in the U.S., but it was still fun to watch. I also went to a lumberjack competition, stopped by the fence-building competition, pet some alpacas, and watched a quad bike demonstration. And, because of my affiliation with HortResearch, I got a free lunch from ZESPRI. (Well, I kind of snuck into that, but they never knew the difference. HA!) Pictures of the Field Days are on my Shutterfly page.

June Dreer Fellowship Report

Melts in Your Mouth: A Fruit that Will Not Disappoint

A consumer gazes across the rows of colorful produce on the supermarket shelves. The rainbow display is appealing to the eye and can make the taste buds water. The consumer selects a piece of fruit and scrutinizes its appearance. It seems flawless, and it is just beginning to soften. It must be perfect eating quality! Yet, upon bringing home that fruit and biting into its flesh, the consumer finds its taste only lack-luster. What a disappointment! If only there was a way of guaranteeing that the rainbow of color would translate into a pleasant eating experience. Well, now it seems that there is a way. Flavor need not be an evasive quality anymore.

Dry matter is the proportion of fruit dry weight – carbohydrates, fiber, organic acids, proteins, lipids, and minerals, to fresh weight – dry weight plus water – in produce. A fruit with high dry matter at harvest will have high soluble solids when ripe. All of this translates into taste. The kiwifruit industry in New Zealand has, in the last few years, put an emphasis on dry matter production – adding price premiums when dry matter is high and rejecting fruit which does not meet a minimum standard. The result is a high-quality product and a successful industry.

The Impetus
The kiwifruit industry in New Zealand is an export industry. In the year 2005, kiwifruit valued at $720 million (USD) was exported from New Zealand to more than 60 countries. Despite this incredible sum, New Zealand still competes with others – namely Italy, Chile, and China – for export markets, particularly those in Japan and Eastern Asia. It is estimated that 80% of New Zealand’s kiwifruit profit comes from 20% of the fruit exported to Japan. The Japanese have proven themselves avid kiwifruit consumers and perhaps even connoisseurs. They are willing to pay upwards of $10 (NZD) per tray of fruit; whereas, markets in the European Union generally pay $3 per tray – just above the break-even mark – and North American, Australian, Eastern European, and New Zealand markets generally pay below the break-even price per tray. Thus, with a Japanese market willing to pay above and beyond, it is important to keep those consumers satisfied. Their satisfaction depends on sweet, delicious fruit.

The Standard
Because the kiwifruit industry is controlled by one supplier in New Zealand - the ZESPRI company – criteria for dry matter and taste were relatively simple to implement. As harvest nears, fruit samples are collected from each block of an orchard and tested for dry matter accumulation. If this fruit meets the Minimum Taste Standard (MTS) for dry matter – a 14.5% average for green kiwifruit and a 15% average for gold kiwifruit – then the fruit can be harvested. Meeting the MTS is not the goal, however. The goal for growers is to achieve the highest dry matter possible with the lowest variability. Using the average dry matter and variability collected from each orchard, and the minimum standards, ZESPRI calculates a Taste ZESPRI Indicator (TZI), a value which is used to distribute price premiums and establish which fruit will be exported to the prized Japanese market. Thus, the strategy is to only send high-tasting fruit to Japan and to pay growers accordingly for their management toward top-quality fruit.

The Management
Because taste has been established as the key parameter for kiwifruit payment, it is important that research on vine management which improves fruit quality take a high priority. As mentioned, however, taste parameters have only been implemented in the last few years; thus, research toward this end is only in its infancy. It is understood that in order to achieve high dry matter, growers must strive to optimize carbohydrate production in the vine, as carbohydrates account for approximately 55% of dry matter. Carbohydrate production depends on such factors as light intensity, moisture availability, nutrition, and genetics. Nevertheless, carbohydrate production within a vine does not necessarily mean that those carbohydrates will be concentrated in the fruit. Therefore, research into the cultural practices which result in carbohydrates concentrating in the fruit are of particular importance.

The cultural practices that appear to influence kiwifruit dry matter are manifold. Choosing the proper rootstock may have an effect, as well as ample pollination. Irrigation must also be well-managed to prevent water-stress while not “watering down” the fruit. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer is a hindrance because it results in disproportionate vegetative growth, which draws dry matter to the leaves instead of the fruit. It also causes excessive crop loading. Environmental modifications, such as ground covers and overhead shelters, are under investigation, but a practice which appears to be particularly successful, at least in the short-term, is vine girdling.

Girdling involves removing the bark down to the cambium layer of either the trunk or individual canes. In the process, the phloem, or sugar-conducting tissue, is removed in a concentric strip preventing downward movement to the roots. When done properly, photosynthates produced in the canopy remain concentrated in the canopy and more are supplied to the fruit. By the time the fruit is harvested, the girdle has usually healed, allowing time before leaf-drop for more photosynthate production to be supplied to the roots for winter storage. Girdling trials, however, are only in their first couple of years, so there is little understanding whether vine roots will be damaged over the long-term by this practice. Some growers remain hesitant to employ the practice until more information is gleaned. Others are experimenting with the practice in small blocks.

Kiwifruit growers in New Zealand are an innovative breed of individuals, willing to experiment. Not only have they tested the cultural practices already mentioned, they are also experimenting with systems of canopy management, in hopes that it, too, will improve fruit quality. Canopy management involves those practices which influence the growth of the vines carrying fruit. It involves pruning and training the vines in such a manner that improves cane quality, determines growth habit, increases light penetration to the fruit, and reduces vegetative vigor. Various canopy management strategies are employed. Many growers are creative modifiers of traditional systems, while others are progressive inventors of entirely new systems. My work here at HortResearch has involved meeting these growers.


The Systems
These last two months, I have been speaking with growers and visiting their orchards to gain an understanding of the various methods of canopy management in Hort 16A – the gold kiwifruit. Because managing vines to promote high dry matter accumulation is a new area of research, and because Hort 16A is a relatively new crop, my project has been challenging but exciting. With the assistance of HortResearch Technology Transfer Manager, Shane Max, I developed a survey to ask growers how they would describe their canopy management schemes, their reasons for using them, the time required to manage their orchards under each system, and how their systems may or may not have influenced dry matter results this year. These are the systems that I have investigated:

Traditional cane replacement. This type of system, as its name implies, has been employed for some time, even before ZESPRI established taste standards. It may fall under two categories based on the type of cane used: primary or stubbed. Primary canes are those that initiated in the previous year and fruited lightly. Stubbed canes are those that fired as a result of a hard cut. Traditional cane replacement is still used by growers, but many are moving away from it in hopes of finding a system that increases fruit dry matter and reduces pruning costs.

Spur-fruiting. Spur-fruiting utilizes a permanent lattice of canes from year to year and crops on small spurs coming off of those canes. This style of canopy management has been adopted for various reasons. Some growers believe that it requires fewer hours to prune. Others believe its strongest asset is reducing vegetative vigor. In cases where vine spacing is large, a permanent structure means that canes will fill their allotted space every year, resulting in higher yields. Growers have also touted that with a permanent framework, stored carbohydrates permit rapid leaf development and canopy fill in the spring.

Low vigor. Utilizing spring initiated, non-vegetative canes is the intent of a low vigor system. Because Hort 16A is typically a vigorous vine, low vigor pruning involves a hard cut-back in the winter months to reduce vegetative vigor. The intensive winter pruning also means that summer pruning is reduced, and thus, pruning costs overall are moderated from traditional systems. Light penetration through the vines to the fruit is also good. Converted growers claim that the low vigor vines result in more carbohydrate storage in the fruit, generating high yields, good size, better than average dry matter, and earlier harvest.

Stringed cane replacement. The stringed cane replacement scheme requires the greatest capital investment, but growers assert that this system improves fruit quality and simplifies pruning so that even unskilled laborers may be employed. A stringed system most visibly differs from the other systems because, while fruiting canes are grown as usual on a wire trellis, replacement canes for the following year are grown up at an angle, trained along strings affixed to a central post or wire above the canopy. Pruning is simplified because in the winter, a pruner can essentially walk parallel to the vine leader and cut off every fruited cane. With this vegetation removed, the strings are cut, and the replacement vines for the following year are already selected and trained. They are laid and tied in the place of the previous vines. The following year, as these vines are cropping, replacement canes are selected from shots that come off at the leader, and these are trained up strings to be the following year’s cropping vines.

Alternate bearing. This system works in conjunction with the stringed replacement system. In this case, vines only crop or produce the following season’s replacement canes, not both. Thus, rows are cropped every other year, giving them a “break” in alternate years to store carbohydrates. This system maintains the same benefits as a stringed replacement system, but growers believe that the stored carbohydrates from the resting year revitalizes the vines and shortens the fruit maturity period the following year, resulting in an earlier harvest.

The Prospects
Having spoken with several growers employing each of these training systems, much information has been gleaned. Our hope is that this survey will prompt further, controlled research where these systems can be compared. The work that growers are doing to develop these systems is invaluable; nevertheless, what is needed is an experiment that can compare these systems, where all other cultural practices are constant. We hope that my work will show that there is a need for such research.

This project has also served to edify my own horticultural knowledge in a crop that was once unfamiliar to me. Speaking with growers required that I establish a foundation of knowledge for the crop and the industry before making my visits. Speaking with the growers gave me practical, first-hand insight.

I have also gained experience in the methods of Technology Transfer which occur here in New Zealand. This experience has been invaluable, given my career interests in Cooperative Extension. Exposure to the means by which knowledge is transferred in New Zealand will provide me with a broader base to draw upon when I enter my own career.

And perhaps the greatest prospect of this work are the implications it has toward producing high-quality, pleasant-tasting fruit. Someday, we will come to expect a vibrant taste from the vibrant rainbow we see on the supermarket shelves. Disappointment will melt away like a perfectly-flavored fruit melting in our mouth.

References

Baker, R. 2006. “Spring Trunk Girdling and Alternate Row Cropping – Testing the Boundaries.” Kiwifruit – New Zealand Kiwifruit Journal. July/August 2006. pp. 27-30.

Dyck, B. 2005. “Understanding Dry Matter.” Kiwifruit – New Zealand Kiwifruit Journal. September/October 2005. pp. 9-11.

Gardiner, C. 2005. “Low Vigour Pruning Hort 16A.” Kiwifruit – New Zealand Kiwifruit Journal. July/August 2005. pp. 22-24.

Gardiner, C. and S. Max. 2006. “Cropping Hort 16A on Spurs – A Success Story from Whangarei.” Kiwifruit – New Zealand Kiwifruit Journal. January/February 2006. pp. 13-15.

Kerr, J., E. Hewett, and A. Aitken. 2005. “HortResearch Fresh Facts – New Zealand Horticulture” (brochure). ISSN 1177-2190. ISBN 0-477-10014-7. pp 1-33.

Mowat, A. 2004. “Principles of Growing Fruit with Superior Dry Matter.” KiwiTech Bulletin #32. Sept. 2004.

“Taste ZESPRI Update.” 2006. Grower bulletin produced by the ZESPRI company. February 2006.

Wright, P. 2005. “The Challenges of Achieving Higher Dry Matter – A Grower’s Perspective.” Kiwifruit – New Zealand Kiwifruit Journal. November/December 2005. pp. 31-34.

Racing Fool

Challenging or insane? I will allow you, my readers, to answer that question. I had never done two races in one weekend. There’s a first time for everything.

We were up early on a Saturday, my two teammates and I, making the hour drive south to Whakatane. There, the first of my challenges awaited me. Monty’s Revenge was a multi-sport run, mountain bike, and kayaking race. (And no, I don’t know why it was named that.) My leg was obviously the 12K run.

It was a chilly morning there by the coast, but quite a crowd had drawn for the event. As the gun went off, the multitude of runners bolted through town, hurdling flower beds, taking no heed of traffic in the round-about, and filing down for a case of stairs. Our destination: the top of the ridge which separates Whakatane from the ocean. At the top of the stairs, we were directed to a narrow trail, climbing still. Many of the runners who had bulleted off of the starting line were now starting to tire, so I used my strength to pass them. Eventually, we made our way to the top of the ridge – rolling terrain and beautiful lookouts to the ocean, which no, I did not stop to enjoy. Around the ridge and down to a small, secluded, rocky beach, I thought I was nearing the end, but then, we were directed back up into the bush. When we exited again, we were on Ohope Beach. I was still feeling strong, so I took advantage of the heavy breathing I was hearing and passed some more people. Whales were frolicking in the waves beside us, Whale Island and White Island stood as monuments in the distance, and the sun reflected off the waves and wet sand making the winter day warm. When I finished, I handed off the bib to my teammate mountain biker who later handed it off to my friend Liz who kayaked. We finished ahead of half the pack in the end, and we enjoyed a beautiful day by the coast.

But, as if that wasn’t enough, Liz and I decided that one race just wouldn’t suffice that weekend. So, on a whim, we drove down to Rotorua on Sunday for the N-Duro 10K race through the redwoods. The redwoods course was probably more difficult than the one the day before with a near-vertical hill in the middle. It was also more of a tactical course with winding trails, stairs, and tree roots to heed. A bit sore from the day before, my muscles ached a bit, but I still managed to finish fourth among the women.

After the race, we ventured over to the Agrodome – a popular tourist attraction in Rotorua – where we saw a sheep-herding demonstration, and then we witnessed “Zorbing.” Leave it to Kiwis to invent another crazy sport; as if bungee-jumping wasn’t enough. A zorb is a ball, within a gigantic ball, filled with air and a bit of water to make things interesting. One to three people get inside the inner ball and then are pushed down a hill, bouncing around inside all the way down. Liz’s nephew had prodded her with questions as to why she had not yet been zorbing, but after witnessing it, we couldn’t understand the hype or justify the price.

And when the day was done, we soaked our sore muscles in natural hot pools so that the next morning, we wouldn’t be walking stiff-legged at work, divulging our insanely challenging weekend.

See pictures at my Shutterfly website.

Work and Play

One week later, I was back in Auckland again for both play and work. I experienced New Zealand sport culture – attending an All Blacks’ rugby match. From start to finish, it was an exciting experience. Every match begins with the ‘huka,’ an intimidation performance with origin in Maori culture. It was an interesting ritual of grunting, slapping, and aggressive facial expressions. Perhaps it was even a little humorous, for me, an outsider; although, the Irish opponents and their fans made jeering remarks in response. In fact, there was a group of Ireland fans sitting nearby whose response to the huka and to various plays in the game was perhaps fouler than any act of aggression made on the field. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the match, and I learned more about the sport. Rugby bears some semblance to American football, but there are differences which make comprehending the game a bit difficult for someone unfamiliar with the rule differences. If there was anything unfortunate about my rugby-spectating experience, however, it was the incessant deluge from the moment we took our seats until well after the game was done.

The next evening, I stayed dry inside the Civic Theater, awed by ‘Stomp’ – an off-Broadway hit now making a world tour. It was an impressive performance of dance and music using creative props – including everything but the kitchen sink. Well, actually, they even used kitchen sinks in one act.

And, of course, I also did some running. I made my way back to the Waitakere Mountains for a soppy run through the bush where – as is common in Auckland – I experienced all four seasons in a matter of hours. From sun to rain to clouds to hails – I ran through it all, and I hosed out my mud-laden shoes when it was all said and done.

The reason I went back up to Auckland, nevertheless, was not just for play. The following week, I worked at the Auckland branch of HortResearch in the suburb of Mount Albert. I was invited by a postharvest scientist to help with an apple sensory panel. It was a great opportunity to learn about some of the other research being conducted at HortResearch.

At the end of the week, I took advantage of my northern location to travel further north. For my own work project, I visited a grower in Whangarei – two hours north of Auckland – in the region appropriately named “Northland.” The grower, Selwyn, is 80 years old and was quite a talkative fellow. We spent over two hours walking through his orchard, and then he invited me back to his house for tea, chatting all the way through. Often, his ramblings were poignantly opinionated, and he seemed completely at ease divulging these opinions to me – a complete stranger. When the phone rang and Selwyn went into the other room, I noticed a magnet on his refrigerator that read, “Everyone is entitled to my opinion.” I couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony.

But even though I was made to tolerate Selwyn’s rantings, I was very appreciative of his generous gift of two large bags of Gold kiwifruit. He joked about how, being proprietary fruit, he is not supposed to give it away, but I wasn’t about to argue the matter when I was leaving with the freebies. In this matter, I did not mind Selwyn’s assertiveness.

Once I left Whangarei, I had about six hours of driving back to Te Puke. I broke up the trip by stopping at Uretiti Regional Park and running on the beach. It was a beautiful day, and I celebrated the weather and picturesque location by running barefoot on the sand. It seemed like a good idea when I began, but by the time I finished and arrived back at the car, I had several blood blisters on the bottom of my feet. It was a bit painful driving home, and needless to say, I won’t be running barefoot on any more beaches. Pictures of Uretiti Regional Park are on my Shutterfly website.