The morning was still and shinny and Anyway basked in the sun.
Decided to head for shore but before that I had to learn some knots and nots. I should explain for those that don’t know that Gavin is a teacher through and through but as I think life is about learning that’s fine by me.
Once I had passed some sort of test we pumped up the dinghy and off we went. We then leant that doesn’t work in that harbour in a low tide so had to give up and head back to Anyway for breakfast. Ninety minutes later we were off again, found the channel which leads up to the town, really just the outlet of the stream. It was still a bit shallow but Gavin was determined to get there, African Queen in Coromandel.
The goal was to get to Barry Brickell’s totally unique hillside railway in time to catch the train. Barry is an institution in Coromandel and beyond,and, from all accounts, an amazing person.
A potter, he has also developed over 30 years, a railway which takes you up through the regenerating bush hillside to look back down over the spectacular scenary that Coromandel has to offer. Much of his work is conservation, restoring the property to New Zealand bush which supports native birds. He has fenced off one area as a sanctuary and hopes to reintroduce Kiwi shortly.
After we walked back into town and stocked up on provisions we tried a couple of local watering holes, one trendy, one not so trendy but good, and headed back for the dinghy. It was now high tide and the wind was against us, a wet ride back to Anyway. Certainly not the easiest of harbours to hop ashore for a quick Pinot, but well worth it once there. Having been there in the busy season I'd say that now was a good time to be there without the hoards, and from the gardens it appeared that Spring was almost upon us.
Tomorrow we head towards Great Barrier, whether we get there depends on wind and weather.
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