Splash! The first time you fall into the sea is always a shock....
Arising early, cars loaded, we set off for the short 15 minute journey to "The Glen". The Glen being not really Glen like, but a small coastal village with a stunningly classic kiwi play ground. Upon arrival I took it upon myself to have a quick play on the aforementioned play ground, making suitable use of the zip wire.
The mornings haze was starting to burn off an knowing the intensity of the blazing ball in the southern sky we splashed on lashings of sun cream. Backpacks at the ready! We started are coastal journey along the Cable Bay Walkway.
Slowly making our way up into the hills, the first remarkable feeling you get is like being at home, nothing foreign about the sheep in the valley, the pastoral hillsides green with the morning sun... Ah, no I misspoke definitely a foreign sun ☀
Slogging up and up we climbed until the grazed fields turned into native bush. Lush green ferns, hanging vines, the cool damp air only contained by the ample vegetation. Beautiful, serene and ideal for walking. Our pace sped up as the incline eased off and we begin to plateau.
Half an hour passes, with chit chat between the humans and birds alike. The track suddenly opened up, hopping over a fence we were in wide steep grassy slopes dropping down into the blue ocean. Lazy eyed cows goggling at us as we marveled at the brilliantly blue sky and deep navy oceans. In the distance the Abel Tasman National Park, with it's Sandy beaches and deep bays.
Wow a stunning site to behold and well worth the walk.
Parched, we slurped some fresh New Zealand water (bottled from the tap at home) and headed on! Down again the path wove into the cool forest once again. Brilliant light dappling through the fern leaves. "this country just keeps throwing beauty at you" I thought as we broken into a little down hill jog, arms flailing to keep our balance.
Not to be put done by the bounty of the forest we broke into the last part of our hike, rolling hills narrowly lined with steep tracks. Gulping a generous thermos of strategically carried tea we marveled at the vista, glistening ocean, verdant hills and endless sky.
Onward and upward! Across the valley, up the hill and then we were rewarded with the site of our destination, Cable Bay
Filled with excitement we hurried down to the bay. Little known to you as the reader we had cleverly made a suitable rendezvous with our stand up paddleboards. After a lovely lunch with family at Cable Bay Cafe who had come to meet us
Fifteen exhausting minutes of pumping in the mid-day sun we had them up and ready. Donning our hats and sunnies we first had a quick go in the blue lagoon which had filled slowly with sea water.
Joy! As we spot a sting ray gliding lazily through the shallow greeny-blue water. A suitable place for a start up paddle, but we must move on!
A quick turn around and back over the land bridge and down into the pebble beach we threw the boards into the ocean. It takes a little mastery to stand on a paddle board in waves, but once your moving it is like nothing else. Effortlessly moving over the surface of the sea.
Now it is time to break for the sea as we paddled further and further away from the shore, away from anyone. Bliss and peace as we travel in the most paleo of ways, a paddle and your own power.
Suitably satisfied we headed back to shore and that is where our journey ends back on the beach in Cable bay, loading our paddle boards into the roof of our trusty car (K9), we headed back to The Glen to pick up the other car.
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