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31st January 2008
Hello,
Had communication problems, something to do with
configuring, having to buy WiFi time when we can get it so travelogues
are a bit behind; like buses "none for hours then three come
together"!
After leaving Dunedin we got as far as Papatowai,
which is on the edge of the Catlins. These are areas of National
Parks on wooded hills/mountains. We stopped at Papatowai Camp in beautiful
sunshine and planned to go into the Catlins National Forest the following
day. Papatowai Camp was one of the best so far, perhaps the best. It
was beside a sandy river estuary, lovely grassy pitch and only $16, roughly half
the going rate. Lots of hot water and the showers and toilets were very
clean - up to mum's standard!! So after a very pleasant walk down the
estuary to the sea we went to bed looking forward to our walk in The
Catlins.
It started raining at 9.00am and by 11.00 it was
still pouring down - not really forest walking weather - so we cut our losses
and set off towards Invercargill. We drove right through the Catlins
in low mist and pouring rain. I'm sure they were very beautiful but as a
New Zealander said to us afterwards "If its raining in the Catlins just keep
driving, its the only thing to do." One point of interest on the way
however worth a note were some old trees - 180 million years old!
They could only be seen at low water, and by good fortune it was low
water. So in the pouring rain we slipped and slid over this rocky ledge
sticking out about 200 yards into the sea to find tree stumps and fallen logs of
solid rock. They were clearly trees fossilised over the millennia;
The sea obviously washed away the softer rock surrounding the trees leaving
a forest floor in rock!
We continued south and west, went through
Invercargill to Oreti Beach Park, which is another story.
Roger & Mags
Mum & Dad
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