Rocks that Move

The hike to Sandfly Bay Beach was only 2 km—how hard could it be, even with a pretty heavy backpack? The way down was manageable, though tough on the knees. It was quite steep, and the sand made sure you never had good grip, forcing you to use extra strength to dig your feet out with each step.

I foolishly thought the hike back up would be easier. As always, the Department of Conservation’s distance estimates seemed more like measurements as the crow flies—according to my watch, it was actually 3.5 km each way.

When I emerged onto the beach, I paused to take in the view. I was standing next to a rock when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw it suddenly stretch and look at me. What a fright! After gathering my wits, I realized the beach wasn’t scattered with shiny rocks—it was full of seals, basking in the sun.

After some wildlife photography, I started the hike back. The heat made it even tougher. I decided to take a short break every time my heart rate went above 165. That happened about five times, each break lasting only a few seconds, until I thought, How much longer can this uphill stretch possibly go? I pushed on, determined to get it over with. But behind every promising corner, there was more uphill. I powered through, keeping my spirits up with the thought of an ice cream as my reward. :DBaca lagi