woensdag 7 januari 2009

Saturday - January 3

An early breakfast as all 8 of us are keen to pick up our very heavy packs and struggle up stony paths for around 13 km in the hot sun while providing meals for anything that bites along the way. 13 km does not sound far, but if you are constantly going up and down a few hundred meters, then it is at least twice that distance in terms of energy expenditure.

It is hard to describe how beautiful this place is. The vegetation is mostly giant ferns, some 10 metres high. Everything has been done to preserve that beauty. The path is narrow and winds up and down through the 'bush' following the natural rock formation. Bridges are placed to help where the going is particularly hard. The 4 kids surged ahead, probably not wanting to be seen with parents. The beginning was hard as the first climb is very steep at a time when one's pack is heaviest. After a while it gets easier as your leg muscles get used to the walk. Our early morning walks and healthy diet in the last two weeks has paid off. The last few kilometers are fabulous as we descend towards Anchorage Bay and flop gratefully onto the beach. It is here that one of the most pleasant surprises of the whole trip occurs. We had expected to be staying for the next two nights at a hut with only bunk beds and crude matresses, with water and toilet as the only facilities. The hut was fully booked, so Caro had made reservations at the 'Aquapackers' floating backpackers hut on a boat. We we told to wave from the beach and we would be picked up. A rubber boat duly arrived. We were taken to a floating hotel by a cheerful kiwi called Chris, who told us that the barbecue would begin at 6.30, there would be breakfast from 6 in the morning, and the bar with wine and cold beer was always open, just write down what you have used and pay up at the end. And there were hot showers. And there were no insects of any kind. Then the barbecue started, heaps of steaks and sausages. A table loaded with salad, rice and the most delicous lasagne I have ever tasted. This is a backpackers heaven.
























































































































































The Beach at Anchorage Bay



If you fall off here it's 300m to the beach



A breadcrumb fell into the water


Waving for the lift to the Aquapackers


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