Described as a 3 day moderate to difficult track, this was my chance to get out in the bush and see kiwi's - the brown flightless bird kind i should add.
The first walk went quick - the signs give generous times and i had the weather with me, it wasn't a crowded house though - just 4 of us were in the first hut. I tried to go Kiwi spotting the first night...picture me, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, moving furtively through the bush, heart pounding because it's so dark, I'm alone and I'm a wuss with an overactive imagination. The roar of the ocean is making it hard to hear things, a light drizzle is just starting and then suddenly there's a really loud noise and it's coming towards me...it's a heavy man and he's running at full pelt in my direction. Adrenaline kicks in, I become superman and then I realise it's hooves and its running FROM me...I decide to call it a night before the skies fully open and i wet myself.
I don't see a kiwi over the next two days, the walks are surprisingly easy, the wildlife is less than that around Oban and there's too much boardwalk - this is a GREAT walk? It a slightly weary me that walks through the rain back to Oban and my Christmas dinner invite. Dinner is at Jo and Andy' mums with some of there friends and 2 other B&B guests (Len and Jacqui) - i feel privileged to have been invited. It's strange though not to be with my own family, but even so, it's a good day.
Len is a great laugh and a top senior golfer in Wales. Somehow i get invited to play on the local 6 hole course. This has to be one of the strangest and most southern courses in the world - amazing views, amazing holes and amazing that i got around it by only losing 1 ball (i found about 8 to make up for the ones i lost). It's a long and great day - dodging showers, dodging my slices, and getting tips on how to play and where to look for my balls.
I also strangely and gratefully got an invite to say at Jo and Andy's mums. Coral is a nice lady who's mind is as sharp as her wit and her ability at scrabble - i always lose. With her permission I use her house as a base - I've decide to walk the 8 - 12 day North West track, a tough trek through mud...lots of it. This will be difficult, but I really want to spot kiwis. I'm hoping it's worth it...
