February 18-23 - Met Peter and Teresa on the Wild West coast! On the way Mark and I stopped and walked the Inland Track to the Ballroom Overhang. Then continued on to Haast, a small jumping off town that boasts clean, new toilet facilities, where we met up with P & T who had just walked the beautiful Milford Sound. (New Zealand has the most amazing public toilets!) The four of us walked the Copland Track to the Welcome Hut where T had reserved the private Sierra Room for the four of us - bunks, cooking facilities, nestled near the Copland River. The next adventure with them was kayaking the Okarita Lagoon, a bird sanctuary where we had the beach reserved for just us. We camped on the beach, Peter made a big bonfire, and the next day we kayaked through the lagoon where we observed hundreds of black swans, the kokutu-very rare eastern great egret (Ardea alba modesta), a white heron and more (the area boasts 76 species of birds). On to Hokitika where T had reserved a wonderful airbnb on the beach! From there we spent a day bike riding the West Coast Wilderness Trail from Cowboy Paradise to Kumara. Our shuttle driver introduced us to the illustrious, brusque owner as we headed off down the trail. Very fun bike ride! Back to Richmond/Nelson. Peter, T and Karen took the water taxi to Totaranui in the Abel Tasman National Park. We spent the day walking the coastal walk and swimming at all the beaches along the way. Our meandering, naturalist pace paid off with an amazing display of bottle nosed dolphins in Mutton Cove. They frolicked, splashed, and sprung with their entire bodies into the air! The DOC warden later told us they do a loop from Separation Point to the Queen Charlotte Sound and back, and this time of year they come in close (as well as Orcas) to feed on sting rays. We made our way up to Separation Point and then on to the Whariwharangui Hut, where there was still a beautiful beach to swim along. Back to Totaranui the next day and water taxi to Marahau, then drive back to Richmond. Great time with P & T!