Not your ordinary backpackers part 3

We shoulder our packs again and head on down the valley. Note the characteristic rock outcrops.

Miranda has ordered up a little high cloud, and sure enough, there it is. A month to get practising on weather orders.

We pass beneath one of these big outcrops, and growing into the side of it is a pohutukawa.

This area was heavily settled by Maori at one time. Tony shows us kumara mounds. Rocks and soil are piled up together so that the rocks, retaining the warmth of the sun, release it to the soil overnight to assist in growth. There are also substantial traces of a rock wall which is not a common feature of Maori domestic arrangements.

We reach the estuary. The tide is in. I don't think mangroves ever look their best at low tide.

and we move around the shore towards Lane Cove.

This where I'd like my bach sited. We climb somewhat to take us around the steep bit ahead on the right, and down in the harbour I can see an old, old acquaintance, Jim Young's Fiery Cross, which I haven't seen since the early sixties. A wonderful boat, well ahead of her time, she was known among yachties as the Furry Crutch.

The route gets a bit scrambly around here, and I am obliged to take my pack off and pass it on ahead. I make it, to audible sounds of relief all round.

We make our way down the hill to Lane Cove, about four and a half hours after setting off, including about half an hour taken for lunch.

Yeah, right!

Tony's boat arrives to pick us up, and we head off for a short tiki tour of the harbour.

From down here we get a good view of the Duke's Nose. The duke concerned is the Iron Duke himself, the Duke of Wellington.

Not a bad likeness...

I relax and lean back against the side of the boat. Tony makes us a cup of kawakawa tea, just a leaf of kawakawa in the cup, covered in boiling water. Very refreshing.

The rocky outcrops continue.

I bet some of them are even named.

Now there's a spot for a bach...

The boat ramp is up ahead

and Miranda takes the opportunity to do a little bird photography

Oy. Get off my pole.

Tony delivers us back to the Cedar House, and Miranda organises dinner while I adjust my back to the mattress for maximum comfort.

This is supposed to be a rehearsal of sorts for the South Island so she pays lip service to this ideal by preparing one of my dehydrated dinners. We eat on the deck. It's a long way from camping.

Thanks Tony. Thanks Joy and Richard, at the Cedar House.