High above the treetops and it's the only way to fix a wonky table.

 January 10th

A beautiful start to the day so breakfast was eaten outside at M&D's. There had been talk of going to Hokitika Tree top walk, something we had planned to do and which was now a bonus with our neighbours joining us. First though we moved the Toy to the upper field. Yesterday David tried in vain to get an internet, he has an app on his phone giving the signal strength and discovered the top field was exactly where we should have been. 

Now the plan was to go in Marilyn's and Davids motorhome and leave the Toy to keep a space. I ask you...how big is the Toy compared to their motorhome??? Even facing sideways we couldn't keep a space. Anyway we made ourselves slightly bigger by putting the awning out, which also helped with placing the solar blanket out of sight. It went on top of the awning in full sun so the fridge wasn't in danger of defrosting whilst we were gone.

Off to the Tree top walk, Marilyn even said she may join us, swing bridges and heights worry her (its only 45 metres above the forest floor), we got to the counter to pay, hmm, she chickened out at the last minute (...wimp...) But that had its merits though because she bought me a lovely salmon pink New Zealand T Shirt while she was waiting in the shop for our return. (I take it all back…you're not a wimp after all, just not adventurous enough)

It said STOP and refer to Map. Both did as they were told!!! Blooming miracle!

Now, you know us, we love a good zip wire and if the price hadn't been so high we may well have done this one but for 105 dollars each, now that was pricey!

I could have told you what type of Orchid this was but Ian went and threw the leaflet away! Just so you know, it grows on the bark of the tree.

 

 

 

The tower had to be climbed, the view from the top was worth the 105 steps up (David counted them) Stupidly, and it's not like me at all, I forgot to take a photo. This photo then from Wiki

(ignore the watermark. It is not my photo)

A cantilever extension of the walkway over the forest treetops.

Ian and David at the end of the cantilever.

Time was getting on and ever aware that Marilyn was due to meet her friends at noon for lunch, we headed back down. She dropped us off in Hokitika armed with bags of washing and waved us off to do the chores! Three machines we pilfered much to the annoyance of the person we had beaten to the launderette! It only had the three machines!!! Anyway we did apologise and then cleared off to find a café for our own lunch.

An hour later laundry done and nearly all dry. We then had to find the motorhome. It was right on the beach front, Ian saw it first and not too far to walk. Washing deposited Marilyn returned, and soon we were off back to Mahinapua Lake.

There are times when one gets the giggles and can't stop, it happened to me when David got his table out. Tables and chairs had been brought out in readiness for more nibbles and dips. The ground was uneven, I used two stones under our table legs to make it level. With David, it was a different matter. When I saw him with the spirit level, I lost it completely!

 

 

I don't think I have laughed so much in ages. He tried the table in all sorts of different places until he gave up and used that spirit level under the leg instead. Absolutely priceless!

That did the trick!

It worked because nothing slid from the table. It was one of those memories I won't be forgetting in a hurry.

 

Tomorrow we say farewell, both going in different directions although first we all head North to make for the Brunner mine.

And seen at Hokitika

 

 

And wildlife