Last days in the Cook Islands

With access to all the produce growing in the garden, we have been enjoying our breakfasts of very fresh fruit salads and bread:

We had a quiet day on Thursday. We spent some time on the terrace watching the water levels and direction of flow in the lagoon as well as the waves breaking on the reef.  The sandbank close to our terrace was visible and then covered with water a number of times during the day and the little stream was smaller and larger.  There must be a PhD thesis in there somewhere!  3 years in the Cook Islands - hmmm!

Waves breaking on the reef

In the evening, we walked down to Muri to eat.  We noticed that the stars were rather good on the way home, so John headed for the terrace with his camera to see how it would cope with the night skies. We have a night trip to an observatory booked in a few weeks.

This shows the Magellan clouds

This morning, John was keen to go to the beach further along the coast which is noted for snorkelling. He was up early and the fish were obliging. We had bought a waterproof camera for this trip, knowing that it has a second life on the beach at Broadstairs.  The photos were rather better than those from the Barrier Reef. 

Meanwhile, being awake by the time John left, Pat decided to take a walk down the beach. It was a beautiful morning. There were few people about, those I met were taking the dog out. Others dogs had taken themselves out and were having a great time on the beach. 

I could see john from a distance: he was the only person in the water

After breakfast, we took a bus (anti clockwise) to a walk up into the hills.  We didn't intend to get to the top but wanted to get into the countryside. Our walk took us along a Tsunami evacuation route. We stopped at a pretty allotment where the owner was resting.  He grows papaya and dry land taro.  The red plants are called Terryicki and are used to keep pests away.

As we moved further away from the road, we were adopted by a guide who stayed with us all the time even back down to the bus.

We crossed a stream, where children were playing in the water

There were plenty of opportunities for taking photos: this is another banana tree

An ivy animal like sculpture?

Plus some interesting flowers

Tomorrow we fly to Auckland and then drive up to Paihia. We have absolutely adored Rarotonga, while there is tourism, the island is unspoilt and the people (and dogs) very friendly and helpful.