Chinara’s
Wednesday, February 6: A little cold at first, but very sunny with clear skies
GPS Tour
Happy Trampers. Auckland Guided Hikers’ Meetup, at Huia
Up very early for the hike but Camila was up even earlier so she was through with breakfast almost before I started. Made my lunch and packed some bits of apple and a banana as my hiking provisions and was down at the intersection at 8:20. Mike turned up about ten minutes later and we were fairly quickly in Huia for the hike. Quite friendly bloke about my age, and meeting up with the other people showed that all ages were present. A brief round of introductions followed and then the tour leader Stephen had a couple of words to say about the hike. This was to be a bush bash, a wild hike through the undergrowth, with occasional getting lost.
Pretty soon we were in the thick of the bush and a short time afterwards at a minor waterfall about halfway up a hill there was a morning tea break where I had my apple quarters. Then it was up to the top of the hill (the “Drum”) for lunch. A couple of prickly bushes along the way and hit my head on a branch, but otherwise no serious injuries. At the top spectacular views, but very little space, so it was hard to set up the shots I wanted to take. At one point Stephen admonished me for wanting to take a group photo (which I had no intention of taking) but generally the mood was light and conversation easy.
After lunch we continued on to a lookout and then to some caves where I was invited to take my group photo (finally! ironically meant) with a break for afternoon tea, and another shorter break on a field with a swing above where the cars were parked. From here onwards I spoke with Nathan about modes of learning. Another short break at the car park for shoe changing, then to the café at Huia for apres snacks. I chose a hokey-pokey ice cream, single scoop (actually three balls) for $4, and this was the ice cream I had been waiting to eat again for 38 years. Expectations in permafrost.
| GPS Tour: Huia Bush Bash |
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On the way home with Mike I recounted the story of the Exorcism in LA from 2005 and he was inquisitive and thoughtful. Explained to him about airbnb (which he seemed interested in) and we were soon in Birkenhead while he was explaining his romantic involvement with a Siberian woman (hopefully no cyber chatbot). Tried paying him for his petrol but he refused saying that the hike and the company were more important. Impressive bloke.
Chinara also showed up at the same time and while she took her shower I skypephoned Tom for this evening. Then it was my turn for the shower and a couple of minutes to unpack the rucksack and Tom was there, sporting a beard, which he thinks is in contradiction to his role as Oswald in the current production of Lear. There was a question of milk that Chinara wanted to be bought, so in addition to showing Tom my digs he got to know the hostess. Dark blue bottle tops were required.
Dropped off along the way to a dairy where upon entering the scene from one of the Cannery Row series occurred to me of Doc at a bar on his way to collect specimens and thinking of the oddness of a man with a beard entering a bar, and deciding to order beer milkshake. The rest of the journey was taken up with my description of the beer milkshake attempt at the Altstadtfest in 1985 or so, and Tom fantasising about what beer milkshakes could be conceived.
At their place was met by Cather, Oliver and Henry, & Charlotte who became quite friendly after sniffing my hand. This was to be a BBQ evening with a couple of beers, guacamole, pork chops, sausages with blue cheese in them, chicken drum sticks, oven baked potatoes, and corn on the cob.
Conversation was quite witty, with my trying to buy thongs in NZ leading Tom to recount trying to buy rubbers in the US; and that reminded me of Huw’s attempt at buying Durex in the UK; and finally Prince Charles’ confession of using the same as a contraceptive and the response it provoked in Oz. I was laughing so hard, I though it would never end.
After dusk, still early, but after a packed day, Tom drove me back to my digs, where Chinara and her little boy were disagreeing over something. Put the milk in the fridge and went downstairs to complete the diary.
