Another ridiculously steep hill...

Today we were preparing to move on to our new volunteer project In the Abel Tasman national park, ready for out next week working hard to help out the Department of Conservation.
Our leader Tom has had personal concerns (of other family members) and has had to take a week off so we are spending the week with Mark. Another kiwi and outdoorsy type, who is incredibly athletic an in to climbing, walking, cycling and mountain biking.
So we were introduced, and then had time to head into town while they handed over, so we grabbed a quick coffee and looked at the local Sunday morning car boot sale type market.
Soon we were In the van and heading off to pick up Russell, Diane, tommy and sachin who had left earlier to go skydiving! They had just landed when we arrived (except Russell who petrified his mum and decided not to) and were all so ecstatic, and thrilled they had done it. We watched sachins video and were impressed with the whole jump.
I am rather jealous they did it, but do not believe I would have been able to participate, as my main fear is falling out of a plane, and thinking about it my heart races and coach churns!!

We then headed on towards the Abel Tasman national park to prepare for volunteer week in tataranui. Stopping for lunch at the wholemeal cafe in Takaka and getting a worthy meal for the day.
We soon set off again and stopped at the Rawhiti Cave, with an hour long hike up hill to reach it. I don't think I have ever sweat so much on one walk. It was such a winding track, but we stopped every so often, finally making it to the top, and boy was it worth it!!
It was the most fantastic calcium deposit formed cave, full of stalactites, stalacmites and flowstones. The formations were fantastic, and it was a vast cave. Chrisi believed it looked like the bat cave from The Dark Knight Rises, and hoped Joseph Gordon Lovett (featuring in the new film) would show up!
Walking back down was not a quick as expected, with a few slips and muddy bottoms with most of us unprepared and in travelling clothes such as jeans, and myself in Nike hi-tops not hiking boots as I packed these at the back of the trailer.
We walked it though, and it was worth it -a fantastic trip. Another short drive and we arrived at our new accomodation, and headquarters for the week!
We are now settled in, by the fire in a 40man house! (although the ten of us have squeezed into the same room for heat and company). Home made Tomato soup is on the hob and I think it will be an early night for me!