Another beautiful day for a walk. We were headed to the Pororari River Track, which we have been on twice already, when we passed the Truman Track. We’ve passed it many times and the small parking area is usually full. There was one parking spot available and we’d better do this track now, before we leave! It’s a short 15 minute walk through a grove of native forest to the coast and a small beach. Along the track there are placards with information about the trees and bush.

The Rimu is the canopy tree in the forest in this area. It would be the trees towering over the bush in forest pictures.

The Rata is the two thick trunks on either side of it’s host tree here. The host tree seems to be dead and decaying in the center!

After walking from the forest then through a flax field, the view widened to encompass the ocean from the pancake rocks south to a small bay on the north.

The waves into the bay weren’t huge, but you could see the undertow and the roiling waters in the bay!

We climbed down the stairway to the beach, past signs warning that “Due to extreme tidal currents & rips it is advised not to swim at river mouths & beaches along this coast”! It being near low tide we took the risk to walk on the pebbly beach and explore the water-carved sandstone caves.

Robert took a picture of me from the cave, I took a picture of him in the cave!

A panorama of the small side bay with calmer water.

A close up of the wave eroded outcrop/arch.

And a crab claw we found with a perfect articulating hinge!

Today we prepped to do a practice packing since we will be moteling it for a few days as we ferry and drive back to Auckland. Since we will be flying internationally we decided we need to inspect for biohazards that may delay our entry into Australia. Boy, our shoes are covered in biohazard! Mud from our last long hike on the Inland Pack Track was well dried on our shoes so we had to spray and scrub them thouroughly!After that chore was done we relaxed and finished the little bit of NZ Limoncello we purchased several months ago, using it to flavor a gin and tonic with the NZ gin we bought in Queenstown. Can’t take it with you!We are trying to use up the food we brought with us, and we had a package of sea perch to grill, so I attempted my first homemade tortillas to make fish tacos! Though they don’t look that photogenic, they were definitely NOT biohazards! They were delicious with rice and beans, homemade pico de gallo, and salad garnish. We’ve never found fresh jalapeno peppers in NZ so we had to do with dried chili pepper flakes and packaged taco seasoning.After that delicious meal we were able to enjoy a nice sunset, and a fire in the woodstove as the temps cooled down a lot!

Today is another Sunday Market at Fox River. We learned from our host’s friend last evening that the Market is run by the commune at Fox River . We asked if they would like a donation of a small gas BBQ grill and 2 camp chairs and she said to talk to Bill at the Market. So we took our little grill and camp chairs to the market and donated them. In appreciation we received coffees, cookies and a book about the history of Fox River, formerly the town of Brighton!

Our great little grill. It was used frequently and now has a new home!

Since the morning mist and drizzle was burned off by the sun, we did a little exploring. The old bridge, built around 1929 when the road was finally opened on the coast, has been replaced and no longer crosses the river.

Looking back across the Fox River towards the town site of Brighton which is now home of the commune of Katajuta. You can see the top of the white tent in the background, just to the right of the old bridge, where the Market is held every Sunday in the summer. It’s hard to believe that over 3000 people lived at the base of those hills in 1867-69 and mined gold in them thar hills!

We headed back home and decided to go down to the beach since it was turning out to be a glorious day!

We got onto the beach just north of the house, the other side of the ‘haystack’ rock we can see from the deck. You can spot the roof of the house half way up the the hill to the left of the haystack rock.

It was relaxing to just watch the waves rolling in.

We headed home to do some chores. I washed and vacuumed the car and we had a grilled fish dinner. Another beautiful sunset to close out a wonderful day! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Our last supply run into Westport. We stopped at the Westcoast Pie Company for lunch before shopping and enjoyed wild game pies (the turf). I had a himilayan tahr with cumin pie and Robert had a wild hare and mushroom pie!

We didn’t have the 2 beers to make it a 3 course meal though!

After shopping for the few essentials we need to last the 5 days we have left here, we headed to the coast along Charleston to catch the surf (on camera!).

Robert flew the drone while I sat watching the waves.

We headed back home to spruce up and head up the hill to join our host for a glass of wine. Her friend came by and we had a wonderful conversation over appetizers of sashimi fresh fish with wasabi and our host’s own brand of Fritz’s Weiners with an assortment of dips, cheese and crackers!

While rain threatened in the distance we moved inside and enjoyed the company of our host, her friend and their dogs!

Terriers! We got our doggie fixes, and wonderful memories of Mavrik!