Maharau to Awaroa

Up at 7.30 after far too little sleep ( thank you messrs Djokovic and Nadal )
Short drive to Maharau where we pick up Aqua Water Taxi to Awaroa. Novel way of getting the boat into the water as we board the boat at the ticket office and this is then towed by tractor down to the shoreline. The tractor then reverses into deeper water, unhooks the boat and weare on our way.
Special treat as we sight seals on rocky outcrop before arriving at Awaroa Bay,a real jewel of a location. Awaroa Lodge tucked away in the bush and Tony in reception very welcoming. We have been upgraded to the Kotuku unit ( named after an endangered bird species of which only 150 remain ).
Set off on short walk to Awaroa Inlet, which high tide prevents us from crossing,and on way meet 3 Kiwis , one of whom tries to tell me that the line he has drawn in the sand indicates sacred Maori territory.I tell him I'm crossing over it anyway so he will just have to shoot me. His response- "I don't have a gun so I just offer you a beer!" I refuse this but we do have a good chat about a number of no doubt trivial matters.
Wonderful sight on way back when we come across a huge group of oystercatchers ( of the bird variety ) lined up on the beach waiting for the supermarket to open on the incoming tide ( as a ranger later put it so drolly ).
Lovely dinner at the Lodge and then off to bed with a selection of books about John Eales, Ayrton Senna and the All Blacks.
A great day to start off our stay in the Abel Tasman NP.
The Obese Ferret