April 15 - Brook - Today was a rest day for all. The question is what to do with one's self on a rest day. Given that I am not the type of person that likes to sit around I was happy to have an invitation from my host family, David & Janet Cornish to join their Walking group this morning. Today there was a walk scheduled for Duder Regional Park. Vivian and her host family also joined us for the hike. We met at 10:30 and started off with a group of over 20 people. It was a lovely warm but overcast day, which was good given that there was no shade to be had. The regional park is run but the Auckland City Council and like many the paddocks in the park are full of cows and sheep. The trails are made to go right through the paddocks with the livestock creating close encounters with the farm animals, and closer encounters with "cow pies" if one is not paying attention. This was vital for me as I wore sandals, then I realized why everyone else was wearing full hiking boots. After about an hour of careful walking we reached our destination, a sharp point looking over the ocean and into the Tamaki Strait with a wowing 360 degree view. We sat and enjoyed our packed lunch with the slight warm breeze.

After lunch we made our way back to the cars. Everyone enjoyed a lovely walk. After this I was forced to go for the mandatory ice cream cone that the Cornish's said was tradition after this walk. We went to the cute little town of Clevedon for this.

Then off home again so I could pack-up and move on to my next home stay hosts, the Grant & Cathy Hunter.