West Coast

Another beautiful day, so after we’d hung up a load of laundry, we decided to drive over to the west coast.

First stop was Ōmāpere for a look at the bay and to use the public toilets. Recent renovations were a boardwalk down to the beach, Māori art, and a playground with solar trash can. We assume the later sends a message to headquarters when it’s full.




We drove a side road up to Arai te Uru Nature Reserve where we walked a little to get to the lookout point to see the Tasman Sea and down Hokianga Harbor. From there we could have taken the 4-hour Waimamaku Coast Track down to the beach and along the shoreline. We opted not too.

The harbor has a shifting sandbar across its mouth so it hasn’t been developed as a shipping port. According to information signs, in the 1800’s, ships often floundered when they tried to get in or out, including one carrying 400+ coffins back to China. Whenever Māori find bones along the coast, they bury them in graves out of respect.

One has to either love wind or be able to bear it to live on this side of the island. 

Next up was a visit to Tāne Mahutu, the lord of the forest, NZ’s largest living kauri tree. Because of kauri dieback, caused by a root virus, we had to clean our shoes at entrance and exit. 

Grant gave us a scare when he fell completely flat after his shoe caught on the webbing of the board walk. Fortunately, he only got little cuts on 2 fingers and his knee, although his sock was torn badly enough to be declared a total loss. His yell as he went down was heard by workers across the street who rushed over to help. We had to file an incident report with the Department of Conservation in case he had more injuries that would need attention. 


He claimed nothing else hurt, so we enjoyed the beauty of the forest even if the benches were too damp to sit and meditate.

Back to the road along the harbor and lunch at the Boatshed Cafe in Rawene. I got the seafood chowder with mussels and unshelled shrimp. Grant had a panini, and Betsy ordered the nachos.

 In the little shop area, there were cute earrings cut from bicycle innertubes, but at $42 a pair, I think I’ll try cutting out my own. The restaurant was closing for the day as we were leaving, so the proprietor gave me 2 blueberry muffins gratis.


 




Across the street was a puzzle store, owned and operated by Louis Toorenburg, perhaps a retired hippie. Three rooms of jigsaw puzzles, games, Rubik cubes, metal ring puzzles, etc, etc, etc. The last room was a museum of his personal collection of all sorts of puzzles. 

I bought a wooden one with flat pieces with stars cut out of them which have to be placed on the board so only 1 color is seen. I haven’t decided whether it’s a gift or a souvenir for me. Maybe both.


We had to get home in time for Grant to make potato salad for our dinner with Claes tonight. 

He made huge pots of green-lipped mussels in a heavy cream sauce. Absolutely delicious.

We were joined at dinner by Naho from Japan, Juliano from Brazil, and Ray, another Kiwi, all who work for Claes. Naho is a WWOOFer. (World Wide Opportunity on Organic Farms) who works for room and board.

Steps Today: 4,474

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