Got compared to a hobbit yesterday - Pippin I think - by Lena. Managed to get up this morning for a run at 7.10, probably only about 1.5km. Met up for the kayaking - German Anja and Candian René and Leah. Sam was our guide, a Kiwi who I imagine smokes copious amounts of weed in his downtime.
Paired up with Anja for our two-person kayak, and set off along the coast. Oyster-catchers, sand plovers, cormorants. Lots of little bays and beaches, in between dense patches of temperate rainforest. Sam points out the birds the black beach trees. Each beach has its own history - Captain Cook's observation beach, and the private beach belonging to the conservationist family who donated enough land to make Abel Tasman Park a reality.
We have elevenses, and land at Watery cover at around midday. A short walk over a hill brings us down into Anchorage Bay, where the sailors are waiting at a shelter. It's begun to drizzle, so eat lunch while chatting out of the rain. At 1.30 we board the catamaran, cruising back to Kaiteriteri. The skipper points out some features on the way back, but it's difficult to hear him over the wind. Seals, split apple rock, and some repeating of Sam's stories from earlier.
The journey is really spent talking with the rest of the Stray gang - Michelle and Laura, Sarah, Anja, René and Leah, Lianne and Gea (both Dutch), and Snowflake our bus driver. Sabina, a German who works at the barn, is also on board. Lianne teaches us snaps, a game of code and clicks.
Frisbee on the beach when we land, then bus back to camp. More frisbee there, and some rugby - boys vs girls. Inge is here too!! She's getting on the bus with us tomorrow.
Snowy has recommended a local eatery, Fat Tuis, so a crowd of us march down for dinner. Unfortunately, after queueing for forty minutes, we have another 90 minutes before the food actually arrives. I pass the time talking to the Irish - Áine, Jen, Elaine and Mary, from Mayo, Drumcondra, Meath and Waterford respectively.
Join another random table as well - Catherine, a Canadian living in Munich, in NZ to study robins. And Gemma, Heidi and Olly (all English), French Julian and German Manuel, who are staying next door at the Barn, and joining our bus tomorrow.
When the food eventually arrives, it is damn tasty, but then hunger is the best sauce! Not much heppens back at camp, so only one beer before bed. I'm sharing with the same gang as before.
Joel and Femke also arrived this afternoon, seems like they're getting on quite well, nice pair. Also got IDed for beer in the supermarket yesterday. Ahem.
We have elevenses, and land at Watery cover at around midday. A short walk over a hill brings us down into Anchorage Bay, where the sailors are waiting at a shelter. It's begun to drizzle, so eat lunch while chatting out of the rain. At 1.30 we board the catamaran, cruising back to Kaiteriteri. The skipper points out some features on the way back, but it's difficult to hear him over the wind. Seals, split apple rock, and some repeating of Sam's stories from earlier.
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| René, Leah and Snowy (Gea lying down at back) |
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| Canadian Sarah, me, Michelle and Laura |
Frisbee on the beach when we land, then bus back to camp. More frisbee there, and some rugby - boys vs girls. Inge is here too!! She's getting on the bus with us tomorrow.
Join another random table as well - Catherine, a Canadian living in Munich, in NZ to study robins. And Gemma, Heidi and Olly (all English), French Julian and German Manuel, who are staying next door at the Barn, and joining our bus tomorrow.
When the food eventually arrives, it is damn tasty, but then hunger is the best sauce! Not much heppens back at camp, so only one beer before bed. I'm sharing with the same gang as before.
Joel and Femke also arrived this afternoon, seems like they're getting on quite well, nice pair. Also got IDed for beer in the supermarket yesterday. Ahem.
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