Like a mountain goat

Castle Rock, 28 July 2019

Party: Pop, Spike, Granma, Me.

Mark was away somewhere for the weekend, so when Granma offered Spike and I the weekend at the beach house, we jumped at the opportunity. After stopping for a bike ride at Avalon in the early evening twilight and a late dinner in Masterton, it was well dark and after bed time before we arrived at the beach.

Saturday dawned amazingly fine and warm, with light breezes, so we all went for a walk along the beach, watching the incredible waves being driven in my storm conditions well out to sea. 

On Sunday, another fine and warm day, we opted to go for a walk in the morning around the Discovery Cove track. Thankfully the track sides had been thoroughly cleared since our last visit, and this track was pleasant to walk up, rather than an effort to avoid too many scratches. Once we were most of the way around the ridge, I jokingly suggested to Spike that maybe we could go all the way up the rock this time, rather than heading straight back.

To my eternal surprise, he agreed willingly, and after leaving our walking bag with Granma at the track junction, we headed off up the hill, Pop and I nearly running to keep up with Spike, who it turns out is an absolute mountain goat.

 

He loved the climb, had a great time, kept a reasonable distance back from the edges at most points and posed nicely for some photos. After a bit of a play on the near-flat area near the top, it was time to head back down and find Granma.

Nearing the beach, we were warned by people coming up to look out for a seal just around the corner. We had to scramble down a bank to get around it as it was chilling out on the track, right in our way.

Having warmed up nicely with the walk, we took our shoes off and paddled in the lagoon on our walk back to the car. A really lovely walk in awesome conditions.