The huts are basically a dorm with a massive bunk bed. The bunk has 5 mattresses side by side on each level and then you bagsy the one you want. I got a corner one on the top bunk which was fine. I then went to the beach and went for a swim in the ocean. Pretty cold but refreshing after a sweaty day of tramping!
On my second day I tramped up to Awarai (sp?) and it was a really tough hike. I crossed the bay at low tide (20 minutes of walking in mud and cockle shells). That was pretty frightening because if the tide starts coming in you can get trapped. I got up early so that I could make it before the tide started flooding back in. Of course I went to the wrong marker initially (the high tide marker) and had to back-track to the low-tide marker. I wish I had my GPS!!! The hike from then on got really grueling as there was a rapid ascent to 600ft. I was told this was a flat coastal track too! Not so! Pretty tough but I managed to persevere in true outward bound style!! The views were really worth it though since there were beautiful beaches and rock formations to be seen from the trail. What you don't get told is that you will be walking on those beaches and that means you have to tramp down onto the beaches and then back up onto the trail again. Quite often you use the beach as a connection to the next part of the trail. Well worth it though.
Later in the second day I had to wait for the low-tide crossing at 17:00. Since I got to the beach before the crossing at about 12:00 I decided to take some well earned R&R. I did the obligatory sunbathing and swimming!! Really nice weather as well. Talking about miscellaneous stuff, did I mention the sand-flies ? Hmmm. Persistent biting small little bastards is the best way of describing them. Actually it's funny. If you hang around people who speak English, all you hear is "Little Bastard, SLAP!". You end up squashing them and have some of your blood squashed over you legs. And boy do they itch like crazy. I'm actually trying some oral tablets with antihistamine in today since the creams don't seem to be very effective. We'll see. Maybe paradise comes at a cost!!
Other news: So I've had an email from someone that they've found my small backpack. Hopefully the thieves threw a load of stuff in there or got spooked and ditched it. Anyway I'm waiting for an email back so that I can arrange a pick-up or meeting with the finder. Fortunately I left some business cards in there so obviously the finder emailed the email address on the cards.
Today has been a bit rainy so I decided to get my chores done. Laundry was really needed! I also had a shower at the local Cinema in Motueka!! OK so I was given a tip by some fellow backpackers that the local cinema is also a sports hall and they allow you to have a shower for $2. After 3 days on the trails I really did appreciate a bit of civilization. Now I don't smell so much!
Tonight I plan to go to Takaka which is about an hour North of Motueka. It's a small town in the mountains and apparently quite a fun little place. Should be a laugh to have a couple of beers and to just hang out.
Abel Tasman Trail:
Me:
Motueka (tide swimming pool- on the beach - the tide comes in and fills the pool with water and little fishies!)
