Rain forest and caves

 February 6th

Bank holiday weekend, of course that was why so many motorhomes, camper vans and tents were at the Papatowai Doc site.  There was a massive rain storm just as we pulled in we didn't fancy going on the grass in case we got stuck and luckily found a space right by the loos. It was the only bit of hard standing left. Rivers of yucky muddy coloured water came pouring down the road, so much so we couldn't even get out of the Toy to make the short step from the front of the vehicle to the back.

 

For the briefest of intervals it became dry. Ian had mentioned a fish and chip van parked so I wandered off to find it.  Shame I had already bought for tonight's dinner because we may have been tempted.

And a very busy site,

Rain continued well into the night, stopped for a while and started again at first light. It was an early cup of tea and breakfast then, before setting off for the Cathedral Caves.

The gate was open as we arrived and the 2 km drive to the car park was along a dirt track. Gosh that road was in some need of maintenance but there again it was a private road with the owners allowing visitors only during the correct low tide times. I suppose maintaining the road was not on their list of priorities.

At the entrance to the car park we paid our $20 and then shown by a lovely volunteer where to park. He mentioned the possibility of water still being in the cave but said with care we should still be able to walk through. By now the rain had stopped and a glimpse of blue sky was had. Would we be lucky with the weather? 

Walking through the forest was surreal. It is what I imagine a rainforest to be with water dripping from the leaves and misty drizzle filtering down from above. It was wonderful. The track down was in decent condition, very wet but just a bit of mud here and there. All downhill I wondered how I would get on but appeared to have no trouble with the knees. Maybe a tip from another sufferer was correct. Don't go slowly down a hill, gives the brain too much time to register the pain. Go down at a pace and the brain won't have had time to record it. What a load of poppycock, I thought. Well she may be right because it worked for me today. 

Rain falling even though it was sunny

And Ian calls this, God's lights.

Another wonderful beach greeted us.

 

 So far only a few folk milling about, it was to get busier later. Inside you walk through a passage 200m's long and a V shape. In one end and out of the other. I took this from the leaflet given when we arrived. 

It is one of the finest examples of sea cave in New Zealand and is currently one of the 30 longest known sea caves in the world.The cave was formed by the constant action of waves eroding the rock and are often caused by fault lines or fraction along the walls. 

We were very glad that we returned to experience this phenomena although at times Ian got a bit tetchy when he wanted to take a video and people got in the way. It was a just a question of waiting.

 

If the sea levels had been lower we could have walked further around the headland, As it was it looked a bit rough with waves coming in sporadically. 

 

At one point Ian decided to risk the walk and see what was on the other side. OMG...he got caught out big time. So glad I had the camera trained on him. Took me ages to stop laughing!

50 km 2wind

 It was time to return to the Toy. I continued to giggle every time I looked at Ian's shorts. He was soaked! That nearly was my downfall because once again I very nearly tripped over a seal. Look at this photo and you will see why the seals are not so easily seen.

In front of us was a good twenty-minute walk uphill with a couple of very steep bits, I surprised myself that only one rest to catch my breath was required. I feel so much fitter now, if only that blooming knee would stop giving me gyp!

The dirt track back was only marginally better on the return journey. Most of the ruts were on the way in. By the gate though, was the worst bit. Ever felt your teeth rattle? Mine did when Ian went over a little faster than planned! 

Mission accomplished it was off toward Balclutha. Because of all that rain Ian mentioned going back to see the Purakaunui Falls. "To see if they were any better." Just a 10-minute walk from the car park, I agreed but how could I forget about the steps! By now a twinge or two had started in both knees but as ever I felt sure I would cope. Well, I wish we hadn't bothered because (a) the falls were no different from seeing them a few days ago and (b) by now I was hobbling. Pain killers were taken as soon as we returned to the Toy.

At Balclutha we stopped for the photo promised in a previous post. Luckily the sun shone in my favour and that glorious emerald green Clutha River could truly be seen,

I must say the journey from the Cathedral Caves to Balclutha was quite a difficult drive. The wind, a bit blowy when we were on the beach, had picked up and the Toy acted just like FS in the wind, slightly uncontrollable. Those gusts of 50kph had Ian fighting to keep her between the lines, he couldn't travel fast, it was worse then and many a time he pulled over to allow a faster vehicle to pass. I made the comment that the pop top would be staying down tonight but funnily enough, we took a dirt track off the main highway toward Toko Mouth and it was almost as if we had entered a different time zone. The wind dropped and the 17 k became a more enjoyable drive. At one point Ian stopped rather abruptly. Another wheel trim was lying in the road. You may recall how we found one way back at the beginning of our time here, it replaced the one missing from the nearside back wheel. Well that didn't last long, One of the clips had broken and he did wonder if it would stay put. Anyway this looked promising until he realised it was too big!

The place we were looking for was a council run site near to the Toko Mairiro River. It had flushing toilets and water on tap although not sure if it was drinking water. Unless it states otherwise, we boil before use.

 Toko Mouth, a lovely small township and the area supplied for campers had hard standing right by the loos. A donation box is very much in evidence, we put in $10. The field could also be used as an overflow. Hmm, considering this was still the Bank Holiday, there was only us and one other vehicle parked. Oh, and the pop top did come up. No wind to speak of at all here.

Tomorrow we make for Dunedin. There appears to be plenty to do so we may spend a few days enjoying the place.

And seen on route

This post box is my favourite to date.

And wildlife,

Magpie Moth

And from the rock pools at the cave this morning