Day 73: River Pa to Paekakariki Holiday Park (1609-1631)
Friday, February 10
It was a chilly morning, but we were ready to go around 8:30. We were officially back on the TA trail and we stopped in town to get some coffee (I got a scone). We talked with the lady at the shop and she was really kind.
Talking with random people continued as we got to the river walk on the edge of town. It was a bike and walking path so it was really nice. So many people we passed asked us what we were doing and we told them about the trail. We also got to pet a few dogs while we stopped and talked to their owners.
After the river walk, there was a short estuary walk that was nice with lots of boardwalk and even some blackberries. Such a nice snack! We walked the road into Paraparaumu and stopped for lunch. We talked with more people that walked by and I got a milkshake for the road.
We walked the beach and then took a coastal track through the Queen Elizabeth Park to Paekakariki Holiday Park. A few kilometers before we made it to the holiday park we met a guy who lived in Hong Kong and had all kinds of stories about what the area used to be like.
When we arrived at the holiday park and got our tents set up, we saw Wendy and Ian and talked with them before walking into town to get some dinner.
Wendy and Ian retired early and now they travel every year. This summer they are walking the North Island section of the TA and next summer they'll walk the South Island. Creya and Sara and I ate at Finns. It was a really nice restaurant in town but one of the only places open. It was delicious. We walked the 20 minutes back to the holiday park and went to bed.
This sign really made us chuckle this morning.
The start of the river walk. Such a nice path!
Creya poses in a suspension bridge.
The river we were walking next to most of the morning.
Sara strikes a pose on another suspension bridge.
The trail remained really beautiful.
I think this was the estuary walk.
This was definitely the estuary walk. Boardwalks are great!
Blackberries. What a great trail snack!
The view from the boardwalk.
More fun bridges!
We passed this neat old car on our way into the beach town.
This person had some fun painted things in their yard.
Walking to the beach after our snack in town.
Kapiti Island.
Creya and Sara on the beach.
The trail off the beach.
It was a beautiful day. They had a little bridge here. What a nice trail!
Kapiti Island.
The view from the trail.
Paekakariki
Our campsite for the night.