Our 4th and Final Day in AT

AT is Abel Tasman, not Appalachian Trail, as I'm sure you've figured out. I haven't flown back stateside quite yet. Although they do have a street called Hiawatha Lane in Takaka. It made me feel right at home! They also had a local ceramic artist named Lisa Simpson. Hehe. Poor woman. I'm sure she gets way too many comments on that for it to be even remotely funny to her anymore. But anyway, back to AT. When I left off, we'd gone to bed in our little campsite in Anapai Bay. The next day, we got up. I got up for the sunrise again, and sat on the beach for a couple hours, writing and thinking while Karin slept until a decent hour. We packed a little scantilly on the food, so we were both at the end of our rations for breakfast, but figured we could snack our way through until we got off the trail and had a nice lunch. Unfortunately, it took us a little longer than we'd expected. We took a little extra time to head out to Separation Point. We are not entirely sure why it is called that. Karin heard that it separates the Tasman Sea from the Cook Straight (whatever ocean that counts as - we were debating about that one, too). Sounds like a good explanation to me, although we were both a little confused, since the Farewell Spit or Cape Farewell seem like they'd be more logical separation points for the oceans, being that the cape is the northernmost point on the south island, and the Spit makes a natural barrier out around Golden Bay. But I'm not a geographer, although I think that would be an awfully interesting profession, so I don't know! We also had multiple blisters and tape all over our feet in the attempt to prevent more from forming. We were hiking in our chacos, since we didn't want to deal with boots, but that meant that although our toes were happier, we kept getting rockst stuck in them, which isn't so comfortable, and is quite awkward to get them out with a big pack on. I know all of you with any kind of sports sandals know what a pain in the butt it is to fish a little piece of gravel out from right in the middle of the sole of your foot, where they always seem to lodge themselves. Try doing that with a big pack on your back! Toward the end, we were out of water and food hiking solely to get to the end. We were still appreciating the views, but our appreciation was a little more directed: "oooh. That point looks familiar. Do you think the carpark is around this corner?" "Okay. Its finally starting to flatten out. We must be close to the carpark now." "Do you recognize that house over there? I bet its by the carpark." Our watchfulness finally paid off, as we eventually DID make it to the carpark at Wainui Inlet. And our arrival was all the sweeter, since I'd had the unknowing forethought to park in the closest spot to the trail end, so not only did we come around a corner to see the capark, we came around to see my car! We both had our sandals off at this point and oh, those plush car seats felt good. As was the food at the Tui Cafe. Locally grown produce, totally open-air cafe with food cooked out of a camper van. We both got crepes filled with mushrooms and all sorts of yummy spiced-up veggies. So good! Especially since we were absolutely FAMISHED by this point. It was 3pm and we hadn't had anything other than trail mix and muesli bars since breakfast at 9. I got a fresh salad as well, and a warm pear tart for dessert. After fully satiating ourselves, we had recharged our energy enough to drive back over the Takaka Hill to Marahau, where we'd left Karin's car at the kayak office. During that week, I'd somehow managed to go back and forth over the Takaka Hill 4 times, no easy feat! Either going over it, or going over it 4 times! It is a twisty, windy road, both heading up AND down. There are beautiful views from the top out over the Takaka Valley to the west and Abel Tasman National Park and Motueka to the east. But I don't know if the views are worth that harrowing drive 4 times in a row... In case you're wondering, the 4 times were on my way from Motueka to the Innlet, then on our way from Wainui Bay (where I'd parked my car in preparation for our tramp) to Marahau (I didn't have to drive that time), then that same route again after our tramp, and finally back up to the Innlet the next day. And now I'm going to let you guys go because I want to go make myself some dinner.