Woke with the alarm at 6:40, reset it to 7:00. Jet anti-lag seems to be wearing off. Looked outside to see rain and high winds. Got up anyway. Desk lady called at 8:30 to tell us that kayaking was cancelled. Jer very disappointed and angry at either incompetence and/or drunkenness/duplicity with regard to sea kayaking, which was pretty much his reason for wanting to come to Awaroa Lodge. Inquired about the 10:30 water taxi back, but apparently it couldn’t come ashore here due to the high seas. Furthermore, the Abel Tasman bus supposedly doesn’t run until 4:30. Not really any point in hauling all our luggage over the Tonga saddle through cold, wind, and rain, just to be able to sit in Marahau for a few hours, then. We decided to sit in front of the fire and wait for the 3:00 Aqua Taxi, and hope that the wind died down then, as it was supposed to.
Jer’s breakfast muesli didn’t taste so good this morning, but that was just the bad taste in his mouth. Jess’ french toast with grilled bananas, berry compote, and cream was able to overcome any of her bitterness, especially the cream. (Fresh-squeezed oj helped.) The lodge did refund us one night’s stay. While nice and responsible of them, it didn’t really do a lot to make us whole.
Spent a whole lot of time sitting in front of the fireplace, Jess reading and Jer mostly working on this journal. The three Kiwi runners were playing a boisterous game of Monopoly.
Around noon, the reception lady came over, apologized, and told us that the seas were too heavy for the Aqua Taxi to come in to Arawoa Bay, and that we would have to walk over Tonga Saddle (again) to Tonga bay. Realizing that due to the weather, this walk might take us some time, we headed to the restaurant. We had yet another delicious lunch of antipasto (mmm, those olives!) and warm drinks (chai for Jer, and hot chocolate for Jess, the latter drink bring made up of steamed milk, a bar of chocolate, and a dollop of whipped cream).
As soon as we finished lunch, we set off around the wetland and back over Tonga saddle. This was made much easier by the fact that the lovely people at the lodge carried our heavy bags for us. Also, the rain had stopped, and it even looked as if the lodge staff had done some trail maintenance since the previous afternoon. Reaching Onetahuti (Tonga) beach, we realized that the stream had gotten much stronger and deeper. So we clambored back over the rocks, and Jer spotted the Aqua Taxi on the other side of the beach. Jer swept Jess into his arms and manfully braved the very cold stream. The stream was very cold, muchcolder than the ocean. Anyway, we rushed down the beach to the boat to catch it before it left. We then learned from the lodge lady waiting on the beach that the aqua taxi company and Awaroa Lodge have a very cozy relationship (much like Jess and her fleece). The taxi would not be leaving until both we and our bags had arrived. Leaving Jess on the beach with his daypack and shoes, Jer went back to the trail to await our bags, and help carry them if need be. Soon he was shouldering his pack along the beach, chatting with Nathan, the nice lodge gentleman. Given the other guest bags that Nathan and his unnamed co-conspirator were carrying, our Patagonia bags with backpack straps were pretty popular with the lodge staff, as well.
Eventually most of us had arrived at the taxi and loaded up the bags. Jer once again carried Jess aboard, this time getting wet all the way up to the top of his inseam from an unusually tall wave. Gone from wet to humid on the boat, we awaited some errant lodge staff members who had been confused about where their bags were. Eventually they arrived, and we headed off. Jer helped the struggling third guest into her life jacket with only a “Here, let me help.” This prompted Jess to comment that he would make an excellent parent. He was amused by the idea that he was being parental at a nice lady who clearly had some years on him.
Boat ride back was smooth but wet, arrived in Marahau just in time to catch the bus back to Richmond. Saw the same things that we saw on the way up, with the addition of chickens and many small children. Turns out that the bus was moonlighting as a school bus.
We failed to exit the bus at the proper stop, as the driver didn’t announce it. When we realized our error, halfway to the next town, she obligingly turned the bus around and drove us back into Richmond, depositing us right on Queen St. Walked a nigh-interminable distance to the Idesia House, which was made up for by the lovely proprietors, Jenny and Barry, who fed us hot tea, yummy cheese and homemade oatmeal cookies. Since Barry was going to Nelson, he gave us a lift into Richmond, to Appelman’s, where we had dinner. Jess had a mushroom bruschetta, which was good, and an apple tart with almond paste on puff pastry, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Jer had a smoked seafood chowder, which was excellent, a thai squid dish with bok choi and fried green onion strings, which was good, and a glass of riesling ice wine, which was very yummy.
On our way back to Idesia, we stopped into a Day & Night convenience store for a few snacks for our travels. Arriving back at the B&B, we fell into bed a bit before 10:00.