Because of the tides Audrey, Katja and I couldn’t start kayaking until 12, so we go in with the tide instead of fighting it as it goes out. So this morning we get hot showers and coffee and a great excuse to just hang out in Paihia.
The paddle was a ton of fun, nice to get off our feet and do something different. The weather was perfect, high of 24 C, partly cloudy and at the beginning no wind at all, we couldn’t have asked for a better day! We took out a single and a double kayak for the three of us, they took turns in the single.
Our pickup on the other side was a little late because of a flat tire, but he brought us cold beer, so no complaints!
A boring road walk to the edge of the forest then we got to hike in the river again, and I enjoyed it again even though my shoes are soaked. We made it a couple km more than we were planning to the shelter just before kilometer 273, where I was able to pitch my hammock and where Faustine and Ant (who I grabbed a ride with to Kerikeri and then they went off) were hanging out.
Water’s always good! What are those amazing trees called—the ones with the fern fan tops?
Apparently they are called wheki or rough tree fern