So I admit straight off the bat that I didn’t go looking for kiwis last night. I was in bed by 8pm and it was still blinding sunlight outside, so spotlight searching wasn’t an option…BUT this morning…magic!
I was packing up my tent, when I saw it. Snuffling around at the outskirts of the scrub. A strange little waddling creature with a long black beak. Like nothing I’ve seen before….a Kiwi!!! I’m sure of it! Of course, no one else was around to witness it…BUT, I did get photographic evidence! Voila!!
I know, I know. It doesn’t look like much…but I promise you! I know what I saw! Aubs, of course, denies I saw any such thing. But he’s just jealous. That, I’m sure of as well. 😊
It wasn’t a spectacular walk today. My best photos came from a section we were only in because we were lost…we weren’t actually supposed to be there. Having said that, it wasn’t the worst day ever either.
Firstly, a road walk of about 14km. This is the bypass I spoke of yesterday. Cars zoom past at a rate of knots, and there is very little verge to escape to. It doesn’t feel dangerous. But it doesn’t feel fun either. We have a break in a tiny, homemade bus stop by the side of the road. At least it is a safe space to sit!
Eventually we turn onto a little used gravel road and commence an upwards climb. And up, and up and up. Several kilometers of uphill! The bushland was high quality, with several huge Kauris spotted presiding over the forest.
What goes up must come down. So down we came. Another roadside session, before finally arriving at “The Farm”. Folks who have read my blog before know that I use the word “quaint” rather loosely. Well, this place is REALLY quaint! It’s a kind of run down working farm / commune. It’s hard to know whether there are more dogs than people living here. Think mud, dog shit, lopsided hills hoist, broken chairs and cracked benches.
Still, it’s home for the night. We try to settle in. “The Farm” is located right in the middle of a long stretch, without many accommodation options. So hikers begin to pour in. We are all told that due to a yoga instruction course which is taking place, we all need to squash into a tiny space. My tent ends up mounted half in a vegie patch. And on top of pooh. There are 17 tents in total, vying for a place in the mud.
There is one flushing toilet for 40 people. I didn’t venture into the outdoor toilets, which wasn’t a long drop, but buckets under the seat. Aubs told me that they were so full “a man dare not sit down”. Yikes!
The hikers were all in bed by 8pm. The festivities of the residents continued in a swirl of guitar, piano and pontificating. Dogs barked randomly. Lights were turned off around 12pm. I feel so blessed knowing that these peace loving hippies charged us $25 each for the privilege of staying. Needless the say, “The Farm” now rates as the benchmark for worst place to stay on the trail.
It was a duck.
Ahahahaha!! Couldn’t help but laugh at this one!! You’ll be glad to move on from “The Farm”…
Aub may be right! I don’t think Kiwis have any wings!. I’ve made a note to never visit “The Farm”. Gross.
Sorry Lin, but kiwis don’t have big wings like in your photo….. might’ve been a swamp pukeko, though you described it as “waddling”, and the pukeko has wading legs??
Whatever, an exciting moment for you, and fuel for healthy debate between campers!!