weird old day - early spring - snow on the hills and in the air
the day spent largely indoors regularly tossing wood on the fire
sunday excursion plans thwarted by a rearguard action by winter
but a mid afternoon break in the weather aligning with the tides
our destination of choice requiring low tide for the best result
stage 1 - drive out to port chalmers and up and over the hill
take the right to purakaunui and then soon the left to osborne
past that town and follow the narrow shingle road to the end
a sign warning the road not suitable for vehicles so the car parked
double jackets and beanies taken on and follow the track onwards
no idea how far this will be - can't hear or see any sign of a beach
a pleasant amble though - dodging puddles the main pre-occupation
high rock cliffs on one side - a pine tree forest the other - and no rain
the 4wd-only track then becomes dominated by sand so a good sign
and then the ocean is in view and we are onto a long flat empty beach
the sun peaking out and a few gusts of wind providing a stunning sight
it's tempting to take the long walk along the desolate beach to the right
but there's caves to be found and explored so we head left and westerly
clamber up a set of wooden steps and a choice - up to the pa or push on
the pa can wait - we drop down onto another beach on a protected bay
just beautiful - there's whitecaps and large surf to be seen in the distance
but here - calm, gentle and sheltered with a rock-face immediately behind
agreement on a superb picnic, swimming, day-trip spot for summer times
and a beach-ambling we go - and scrambling over rocks also required
the tide not fully out yet so we have the choice of rocks or wet feet
and in the distance under a huge rock formation we can see a hole
there's light emanating at the base indicating it's a walk-through
we edge closer and excitement levels build - the caves are found
a walk on sand through the first with the ceiling just about heads
emerge from that and into a second one of similar size and height
on the flat sand we see some homosapiens coming towards us
coming from the other access point at doctors point we agree
the threatening rains start so we assume a spot in the first cave
and a plan is hatched - we could easily park here for a night
bring a stretcher, food, lamp and cooking equipment - yee-haa
but then oops - high tide would surely spoil the party - oh well
the rain is light and insistent but we are warm, dry and content
as it passes there's a clearing in the sky with nature at it's best
photos snapped but nothing can capture this place at this time
reversing our steps back and a quick look at the place of the pa
the rain threatening again so a promise to return for research there
a farewell to this stunning place and a walk back along the path out
15 minutes later we arrive at the car just as it really buckets down
lucky us - we have been blessed with a break in the weather
another discovery of another stunning spot on the peninsula
back home the fire is stoked and the red wine is poured
taken with a very tasty seafood chowder - good days...
