North Of Three Sisters

We still had some low tide left and so drove back to the Tongaporutu and then north to Rapanui Creek, again to look for spherical boulders and other things of interest.

An impasse to the south, so we turned back north

Sphere candidates

A recent cave-in; very recent methinks

Another impasse

Another candidate

So at the impasse there is a cable hanging down
and steps cut into the rock going up

 

Foolishly disregarding issues of balance, weight, and strength,
I haul myself up to see what was on the other side

More potential spheres

More beach

Another impasse, and a rising tide

Remembering that "the mountain will still be there next year"
(but maybe I won't) I let myself back down

And carried on in search of spheres

Primitive digging implement used in a futile attempt...this puppy
is about a meter in diameter

Emerging from a layer of sediment

Another candidate

The black sand beaches here are laden with iron and now and
then it is on vivid display

Under The White Cliffs, 2018

Next day, we drove down to the White Cliffs track to walk a bit of it--low tide of course--as we had in 2014, looking at cliffs, caves, waterfalls, spheres, and, of course, the sea.

And the occasional cave-in

We were not alone

Black (volcanic) sand creek advancing to the black sand beach

Three Sisters, 2018, 2

Continuing our walk on the beach at Three Sisters...

After a bit, we seemed to have encountered an obstacle

An impasse, it seemed

We were right at low tide, we thought, so we sat down to wait
for the tide, which waits for no man

A possible way through reveals yet another impasse

Exploring a bit, I find another big cave and perhaps a way through

Bold explorer

But the way is blocked by a boulder cave-in

And we reflect that we have had enough fun
and that the next impasse is really serious

And so we head back to river and the camp

Bidding adieu to the Three Sisters

And Taranaki

Neat place

Kiwi neighbor at the freedom camp

Almost exactly where we camped in 2014