What a sunny morning! Waking up to water glimmering through the cabin window, I left my swaying dorm in Joan and had breakfast back in Cat-a-Rac. Soon ready to go, Gorton kindly took us back across to the beach in his launch, where we disembarked (in a rather wet fashion) and made our way to Anchorage Beach Hut.
At the hut I proceeded to do an unusual (for me) amount of faffing, mainly to do with washing my feet and putting my socks and walking boots on in preparation for the 10 mile hike ahead. Peter was already sporting his bright red kayak-sun-burned hands and much-loved boots by the time I was done, so we went to find the entrance to the track. This turned out to be halfway along the beach, which was unfortunate as I immediately got sand in my boots, but it was refreshing to stroll along a deserted beach in the morning.
Across a small bridge we found ourselves on the track, and before long, climbing steeply. At this point, the sole of Peter's walking boot decided to come largely unstuck, attached only at the toe and heel. This was a little worrying as we had only just started the days' hike, but it was apparently walkable (albeit with a bit of a flipping sound) so we continued. At the summit of the climb we were rewarded with stunning vistas of clear blue water, sandy bays and native bush - the Abel Tasman Park really did deliver! Peter's boots however, did not, and less than a mile in, the sole came unattached at the toe, rendering the shoe useless. Between us we now had a pair of flip-flops, a pair of sandals and a pair of walking boots. I very kindly volunteered to wear my sandals so that Petre could wear my walking boots, and also ended up carrying the dead boots. I think I've banked a big favour here...
The rest of the hike passed in increasing temperatures and excellent scenery, and also without further shoe mishap. Back in Marahau for lunch time, I quickly sprinted (literally - rehydrating had gone a bit too well on the walk) for the loo and then began driving Wendy west, towards Westport and the west coast of South Island.
Before arriving on our coastal campsite we picked up some (pricey!) fuel made for the Cape Foulwind seal colony. When we arrived I swiftly realised why 'wind' was party of this rocky coastline's name, shivering slightly in my shorts and tshirt. I followed the Cape Walkway out into the side of the cliff - and sure enough, there were a few seals happily playing on the rocks. Pleased to have had another sighting of seals, we returned to Wendy and to our campsite for the night.
On arrival, Peter decided to spend the first part of his evening super-glue-ing together his boots. We already had the super-glue as I'd previously (and successfully) repaired his sunglasses, so it should have just been a case of sticking sole to shoe. It turned out to be a case of sticking fingers to shoe, and glue to sink, fingers, boots and packet! The previously put away glue had somehow leaked, which wasn't a great start. About to go to bed now, we both have rather glue-y fingers, a glue-y Wendy, and boots that may or may not last another hike. Worth a try I suppose...
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