Tuesday, March 31: Sunny with a few clouds and a bit of a breeze on the bay

Kayaking: Paihia – Bay of Islands – Waitangi, 5.7 km

Centabay

In the night the keys had slipped off the towel rail and dropped onto the floor among the stuff packed there and it took a little while of thinking to work out where they had to be. Was awoken by the manager to get me to move the car and I moved it onto the street where a 120 minute slot was free. About the only business that had to be transacted was printing out the DOC ticket for the walk tomorrow and since the library had banished all wifi users to the park I tried a commercial operator in an “adult” shop. First computer had something wrong with the graphics card, but the second printed out the pdf just fine for $1.6. A couple of things had to be bought for the hike and I thought that – just for the two days – I would opt for bread and have sandwiches made up for both days’ lunches. Short inquiry at the i-site about safe parking – apparently possible at either a camping ground or the backpackers.

Was finished with all this around midday and asked a group of people sitting around if there were any takes for the kayaking, and the woman from last night, Kassandra (just qualified in economics and English) took up the offer. After an hour of having lunch and getting some stuff together we rendezvoused at the office for the security drill, got a couple of very used life jackets, a pair of paddles, loaded the boat onto the trolley and took off for the beach. Short lesson in the two major strikes and we were off around the closest islands, then down to the marae to land on the beach and allow for a toilet break. I had remarked about the musical tattoo she had on her ankle and it turned out that she was a mandolinist whose teacher is the husband of Marga Wilden-Hüsgen, although apart from that we didn’t seem to have many common acquaintances. While I was waiting for my companion to return I observed a skua worrying one of the Pacific gulls and it wouldn’t take no for an answer, following the gull about 200 metres down the shore. A flock of oyster catchers then landed and looked like either they were interested in raising the gull’s gall or looking innocently in the other direction. I pointed all of this out to Kassandra when she was back, who was grateful for the lesson in ornithology.

We tried the river but the tide was very low and despite my attempts art reading the water it just seemed to get shallower all the time and we ran aground a couple of times before deciding to return along the beach, doing a buoy slalom in the process. Had a look at the wharf and then beached, emptied the boat and took it back to the hostel.

The guy at the hostel had given me a “waterproof” container for the camera and PLB but it wasn’t particularly waterproof. Back here I organised a couple of things for the hike, checked on the courier firm about where I could drop Michael’s equipment (Fuller in Russell; otherwise look on the net), showered and am considering the RSA for dinner, and then at least one camera experiment with fixed exposure.

Had a look at the RSA but the menu seemed very conservative and not that inexpensive (although I could be comparing € prices – anyway, most things around $20) so I wandered back into town and passed an Indian place, Indian Fusion (41 Williams Rd, Paihia 0200), where I had naan, ½ tandoori chicken and a beer for $23.9. Superb taste, great meal, don’t know why I don’t eat this dish every second day.

Boiling eggs for the last tramping breakfast took ages on these silly old hobs. One egg broke but didn’t lose too much mass. Still trying to figure out if there is any gladwrap around for a second double round of sandwiches.