View back across the estuary

Path through the bush

Tree fern from above

Droplets 1

Droplets 2

Lunchtime swim beach

Janis’ boat

Well deserved cocktail

Well after 10 days of walking our luck ran out and the rain arrived. I managed a quick dip before breakfast and we set off for the final leg of the Abel Tasman trail in a steady drizzle. We circumnavigated (if you can on foot) the estuary. I looked out for our little shark, sting rays or a kingfisher and was rewarded with only ducks and a pied shag.

My highlights of the morning were sighting a tui (we had heard them earlier in the week but not seen any) and spotting a tree fern growing below the path in such a way that I was able to look down on it. I hadn’t appreciated that the central part of each frond had a point.

I discarded my waterproof jacket as I felt like a human boil in the bag so I arrived at lunch pretty damp. The upside was that I didn’t hesitate to change into togs and head out for the 5 mph buoy straight in front of our lunch spot. There is something quite delicious about swimming on a damp and rainy day, when the difference between the water you swim in and the air above are barely perceptible. I have also found that frequent swimming, either in the middle or at the end of a long day’s walking helps me to stretch out and loosen tired muscles.

Janis decided to take the boat on to our final destination. I got a massive attack of completion syndrome and chose to walk. Lots more rain (raincoat stayed firmly on). Some of the birds popped out, especially the delightful fantails. As I came into Marahau estuary I saw a banded rail. I had a moment’s pause as it was behaving in a similar way to the moorhens at the Ladies’ Pond in Hampstead. I have now learned that moorhens and coots are part of the rail family.

The final leg of our journey back to our motel in Nelson involved dropping off our walking companions at various locations. By the time we arrived back I was pretty chilly and delighted to find our room had a bath. Much restored we went out to dinner and I sampled a Paloma cocktail, which was lovely but probably better suited to warmer days.

So that’s it for my New Zealand trail adventures for this trip. We have 24 hours or so back and Wanganui/Castlecliff before flying North to the Bay of Islands.