It was dark and quiet all night and I slept fairly well. While still in bed, I watched the sunrise on the water... with a full range of pinks, oranges and golds.

Fabulous colors begin to fill the morning sky.

The color of light changed numerous in the short span it took for the sun to peek above the hills.

The water formed all sorts of patterns as it flowed into the bay.

After a breakfast of muesli and fruit, (and disposing of a mouse), we took a walk into the bush. The Nydia Track runs just past here and goes for miles in either direction. We walked for several minutes and arrived at a small pond. Ella the eel swam out to greet us. She's been there for a few years. She had a predecessor but he mysteriously disappeared, probably fished out. She looked at us for a while, hopeful that we had brought some tasty meaty morsel, but we hadn't, so eventually she lost interest.

Anything for me?

Smiling for the camera!

We continued along the trail and walked deeper into the bush. We first passed through the newer forest that is recovering from having been cut down and turned into farm land, and then into the old bush, which was dense with huge old native plants and trees. Marty was impressive with his plant knowledge and bird calls. It's been very very dry here lately, no rain for several weeks when normally it is quite wet and lush. As we walked along, the sound of cicadas was replaced by the sound of bees. Apparently the small native bees have been suffering and being slowly replaced by non-native bumblebees.

New growth (front hill) and old growth (back hills) native forest

The trail even leads all the way back to Havelock.

The rata was in full bloom. Marty said he hadn't seen this many flowers in years.

The path

Everything felt so lush...

... as well as prehistoric.

A glimpse of the bay

We got home and made some cheese, cucumber and tomato sandwiches for lunch.

About the place - Marty built this place in the early 1980's along with his two brothers. This was before the current era of prohibitively expensive and limiting permits. The main house was very lovely, with a vaulted ceiling and beautiful bay window in the main room, a charming dining area, an old-fashioned wood-burning stove used to also cook on, and several bedrooms upstairs. There was a bathroom but it only contained a sink, shower, and bathtub. The toilet was in an outhouse down a short wooden path. So you definitely needed to carefully schedule your drinking hours!

The main room

The dining area

The kitchen

The wood stove

This was an amazing little air-cooled pantry.

The front of the house

The side

The other side. My room is the top right.

The outhouse...

... with its lovely view!

I worked on my laptop a bit while Marty sat looking out the bay window playing some lovely guitar. The clouds had rolled in and the wind was picking up. Far down on the low-tide beach below, a pair of wild pigs rooted around. They are non-native and considered pests. Many people come here to hunt them as well as the possums.

The pigs turn up the ground with their snout while looking for food.

For dinner, Marty experimented with making a fritatta. It was a lovely dish comprised of eggs, veggies, and potatoes. I made a big salad to go with it. The pan crackled as he carried it from the stove to the table. We enjoyed it along with some candlelight and a Sauvignon Blanc from Blenheim. The region is actually world famous for this style.

Marty preparing an amazing meal.

First cooking...

... then baking. The final dish. We joked with him that this was now his "world-famous specialty" that he would now have to offer all his future guests and workawayers.

Ambiance

It began to drizzle a bit outside so I figured I should make one last run to the outhouse, just in case. I was promptly greeted by a pair of juvenile wetas. I, of course, had to race back and get my camera.

One of the young 'uns

I then showered (fortunately indoors with no scary-looking bugs) and called it a night. The sound of the weka bird resonated in the distance.