Overview
Tues. Jan. 22.
Anniversary day so I took advantage of the holiday to visit the family at Paekakariki. Up at 4.30am, + milked +c. Left on bike from rly. stn. [railway station] at 7. + caught the 7.40 train south. Calm bright day. On arrival at Paekak.[ariki] found Maud, Nancy + Clyde had come to meet me anticipating a visit to-day. The cottage hired by Mr. Herd for this holiday belongs to Mrs. Flossie Hodgson, a gay young War widow + a friend of the Barrauds – it is the last cottage southwards + is beautifully situated on a sandhill terrace just beyond the small stream, the upper course of which furnishes Paekak’s water supply. Mrs. Herd + Olive were at the cottage, Gertie having gone to the Wgton races. After a cup of tea we all went in for a bathe. The beach is good, being hard sand with longitudinal ridges below high-tide line. 1/2pl. photo (1) of the coast from the cottage looking north. 1/4pl. panorama (2) + (3) of Kapiti Id [Island] + the Paekakariki coast. Maud + I went for a walk up the beach as far as Bernard’s house. 1/4 plate photos (4) + (5) of girls on surf-boards. After lunch Maud decided to accompany me on a walk to the top of the old-sea-cliff above Paekak. rly. stn. 1/2pl. (6) of Paekak. coast + old sea-cliffs looking south from near Mrs. Hodgson’s cottage. We followed the main road
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as far as the debouchure of the water-supply stream + then ascended the very steep spur to our objective. The hills hereabouts are all in grass, at present very dry, + there is a small patches [sic] of vivid green bush in some of the gullies. From the top we got a magnificent panoramic view through unfortuntely it had turned rather hazy. Maud climbed splendidly + was a perfect companion. 1/2pl. photo (7) of Paekak. from hill-top + 1/2pl. (8) coastal flat northwards in vicitnity of the cliffed fans from top of old sea-cliff. We descended withuot mishap in 25 minutes. On arrival at cottage had another bathe. 1/4pl. (9) looking out from verandah of cottage + 1/4pl. (10) Nancy, Joyce Hodgson + Olive in bathing dress on steps of cottage. After pm tea it was time to depart + I was escorted down to the 5.45pm. train. Cycled home about 8.5 + got through the milking, separating +c at 9.45.