Friday 21^st. Feb.

 

Awake to full fog, but soon signs of sun breaking through, so set off on walk from the hut at 200 metres, up the hill to emerge above the cloud; very spectacular as Akaroa Bay is about 15 km. long by 2 km. wide, and a lovely milky blue. Get to the highest point of the whole walk 699 metres.

 

Akaroa Bay in the morning

 All views still very Scottish, until we enter a 3 km. long wide downhill gully. These gullies create a completely different microclimate and support thick bush of a wide variety of ferns, tree ferns, shrubs and large trees. Get down to Flea Bay for lunch and a swim with Lila; Martin and Mathias declined: it wasn’t too cold, and very refreshing after the heat of the day.

Afternoon walk up and over and around grassy headlands. Down to sea level at one little rocky bay with lots of baby seals gambolling in the sea and rocks: couldn’t get Lila away. Getting hot and tired, we finally glimpsed our destination Stoney Bay with the usual tin roofed wooden house and huts surrounded by trees. Got down to find about 12 of the 4 day walkers in noisy residence on their veranda consuming beer et al: all middle aged to retired Kiwis, Aussies, South Africans and a couple of retired Brits with their son who was helping rebuild Christchurch. Too tired to swim, so settled for following the native’s example by raiding the well stocked fridge for a couple of beers, and chatted up the natives, one of whom a retired Kiwi Farmer. Bought food and wine for the evening meal, and got in queue for the shower: last but one, so the boys cooked a communal meal for the 4 of us whilst I got my shower just before dark.

 

And what an amazing shower. Built around a tree and with a tree growing inside. The header tank was at the top of the tree, and I expected a lukewarm affair at best, but it provided hot water for at least 14 of us: Two had a bath, but more about that in a minute. I forgot to find out the heat source for the shower, but I suspect gas.

 

 

 

 

I washed up by headtorch; there was no electric lighting, but there was electricity to the fridge and freezer: got their priorities right there then keeping the immense quantity of beer cool.

 

By now the other crowd had got the firepit (an old tractor wheel: why did I go and by one back home?) going and we joined the festivities: everybody I have met has been just great.

 

 

Towards the end of the evening, we gathered round the bathroom to serenade the couple having a late night soak under the stars. The bath is heated by lighting a fire underneath, and the walls are evergreen. Google the Banks Peninsular Track if you want proof.

 

As we headed to bed we found that a blue penguin had preceded us to its box under the the hut: didn’t take a photo as they are shy and it would have been disturbed.