over the hill: Te Kaha Recreation Reserve

On our way to Te Kaha, we followed Garth & Helen and their bus (Garlen) off the main road to a spot at Torere where we stopped for lunch.

Back on the road, heading to Te Kaha. There were so many beautiful bays and a new view around every corner.

Eventually, we arrived at the Te Kaha Recreation Reserve.

There was plenty of room for us to stay . . .

. . . but no cellphone coverage! No cellphone coverage for us means no internet. No internet means we cannot work. So our planned two-night stay was reduced to one.

The reserve was enjoyed by all. Horses and four-wheeled bikes obviously made the most of the beach area as well, and there was a playground in the centre.

Dave had a great conversation with three of the local pre-teens who came to check us out shortly after we arrived.

With no ability to work, we went out to explore. One side of the reserve has a stony beach. It is almost like walking in a gravel pit. You sink down into the stones, and jandals are no protection whatsoever—you just end up walking on pebbles inside your jandals!

We walked towards where the reserve jutted out into the sea and came across a carving in a rock.

A closer view.

There was a beautiful pohutukawa, not quite fully in flower, but . . .

. . . there were patches of beautiful flowers—a promise of the display to come.

The land area itself was private property, so we could not venture there. But with the tide out, we were were able to scramble over the rocks and enjoy the views. There were a lot of rock pools.

And White Island in the distance.

If we'd walked further up the beach parallel to the road, it may have less stony. But the other side of the reserve looked like it might be easier on the feet. Tomorrow . . .

It had been a cloudy, dull day, and the sunset was hazy.

The next morning, before we left Te Kaha, Lucy and I went to explore the sandier side of the reserve.

It was Monday morning and there were plenty of logging trucks already travelling up and down the road. This one was empty. Going the other way, they're all full.

It's not a large beach, and soon there was no more sand.

As we approached the end, I noticed a group of pied shags on the rocks just off shore.

Then one flew up to a tree! I had no idea these birds perched in trees, so I went to investigate. There were these two shags on a branch . . .

. . .having a few words to each other about whose branch it actually was.

I noticed the rocks I was standing on had these strange white markings. I looked directly up and . . . more shags. I beat a hasty retreat before I gathered some "strange white markings" on myself as well!

Looking back to where the rig and bus were parked.