Abel Tasman Area (Day 2)

(Feb 9) # Surf sessions = 2
Km logged on Chewbacca = 3500

Last night we just opened up the upper windows to the Hayshed AFTER we turned out the lights…far less blood exploration occurred which led to a better night’s sleep. Once again, we had a repeat of the previous morning’s symphony of the Tui-tui starting solo, followed by sheep as backup singers, followed by the millions (repeat, MILLIONS!) of birds to fill out the rest of the orchestra. Today, Alisa and I left Maia behind with Nana and Grampa (Carolyn, Alisa’s mom, and Monte her newlywed husband) and we got to head out to the Abel Tasman National Park to do a spot of sea kayaking. We got to the concession a wee bit late (lazybones wakers we are) around 9:30 am; most of the day tours leave by 8:30. Our only options were to take a water taxi into the park, hike 30 minutes over a peninsula to where kayaks would be waiting for us, and then kayak back to the concession…or to just do a “freedom kayak” of 4 hours on our own. The gal at the desk said the $65 (each) for the on-your-own session was worth it over the $130 for the other option. Alisa and I have kayaked in San Diego, Seattle, Orcas Island, Kodiak and Afognak Island, so the solo bit sounded like a good bet. We went through the customary “safety” lecture, got our gear and headed out with the high tide. We were warned that the forecast was for a 25 knot headwind for our return, and that we might have to be prepared to ditch on the mainland and walk back to a track where we could be picked up. Non-plussed, we kayaked from Marahau to Adele Island (about 6-7 km), with a 15 knot wind at our backs and made good time. We disembarked from our double kayak and had a lovely lunch of peanut butter and Nutella sandwiches chased by some good ‘ol New Zealand hard apple cider (mmm, cider;).

Nutella and PB sandwiches always taste better after a kayak to a pretty island:)

After a few photos, we got back in our rig and headed to the other side of the island to check out the seal and bird nesting colonies. It is hard to describe the azure nature of the water here…it is REALLY turquoise, is all I can say. The beach sand is this coarse, really singularly grained golden sand, almost orange in some places and bleached-out yellow in others. So, this is the backdrop to the scenery of Adele Island. Layer onto that an island that had all of the stoats, possums, rats and mice removed from it by 2007 to aid the bird population’s ability to thrive…read: MILLIONS of birds making noise throughout the forest covering Adele Island. A cacophony of bird calls and songs rang off the island as we paddled around and these calls echoed off the surface of the water as well. Then, you round the north side of the island to be met by a seal colony interspersed among the rocks and forest trees that come all the way down to the water on the steep slopes. Azure blue water, golden sand edges, sunny skies, bird symphony, and barking seals….sounds like the next concept for a wildlife Cirque du Soleil!

Seal pup looking forlorn:(.....where's MAMA?!!!!!

We continued around the island to the side open to the Tasman Sea and open ocean swells and had fun paddling around in 2-3 swells for a bit before turning around and heading back to the mainland. After another kilometer paddle to the mainland, we got out for a swim, then began our paddle back to Marahau along the coastline.

2 rays liesurely cruising on by on the mainland side (Adele Island in background)...rays are the 2 dark blobs on left in foreground....2 of 3 we saw in 2 days!

The wind had picked up a bit. I know, this is where the inside voice goes “Oh, no. Crap, not in the mood for a mini-epic! No, we got blessed by the wind-gods and were greeted by yet another tailwind! Yep, 20 knot tailwinds chased us for about 5 km with 2-3 foot following seas. The more the wind blew, the faster we surfed down the swells heading “back home”. By the time we got to within 2 km of the high tide let-in area, the wind was up to 25 knots and it was white capping as far as we could see. Needless to say it was exciting paddling up to the beach and we came roaring in at speed, slid up the beach and disembarked like a couple of pros. Happy:) Especially since it could have been the other way around, paddling against a 25 knot headwind against whitecaps and an ebb tide. We returned home to Maia and her “keepers” tired, slightly sunburned and tanned, hungry and happy. The day ended with dinner at a beachside café, consisting of grilled groper (not grouper, but groper. I have only found this in NZ and it is wonderfully tasty. My favorite fish), a bottle of NZ wine and some hard cider (who needs dessert?). Another glorious evening was followed by a brilliantly starry sky with the Southern Cross playing lead.