Rapa Nui 4

Today was the last day of activities here as we have to be at the airport mid-morning for checking in. We opted today for the one long hike on the menu - a 15km walk along to North of the island.  It does not involve too much by way of vertical climb, but the terrain gets very rocky at times with the old lava flows and blocks, punctuated by the dry river beds (which presumably fill briefly at times of heavy rainfall.  Today it was cloudy to start - quite pleasant for walking.  Along the route we saw old structures - some residences, some burial platforms - caves, which were used as defensive hideaways and overnight lodging, abandoned Moai that had not made it to their intended final destination.

Along the cliff top, there were plenty of horses and cattle - some clearly looked after, others not so and some who had died from disease, old age or, in the case of one small calf, probably prey to wild dogs. It may well have been Rapa Nui's skeleton coast.

Lunch was taken sitting in a small bay by an abandoned farm - along the route, the only other humans we saw were three fishermen on the rocks, their horses tethered not far from them.

It was a good walk to get a view of the undeveloped nature of the island and the manner in which the natives survive.  As we closed in on the end point of the walk, so you could see the weather coming in - rain over the sea and then over the hills at the North East of the island.  We ended the walk in light rain, but within a couple of minutes it rained properly (tropical style).  We were lucky to have beaten it!

Pete and our guide Rangi.

Now the task of re-packing and preparing for another flight.