Have You Never Cockled?
Trip Start
Sep 09, 2007
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3
23
Trip End
Ongoing
Waitati,
New Zealand
Sunday, October 21, 2007
We took off on Sat. AM and drove north to Keritani (kera-tawny) where we tried to buy petrol...sold out,but had hoki-poki ice cream cones..you have to experience it to believe it. Keritani was also a side trip as I had seen Royal Spoonbills feeding there,but bad light then...in luck light was good and a spoonbill was feeding in camera range.
On to Waitati (why-totti), a small town farther to the north...turned in and drove to Doctor"s Point...completely alone...if in th US would be packed...liked the beach then asked a local where the cockles were. He knew right off. You see,cockling here isn't anything obscene like it may sound,but the act of harvesting a small delicately flavored clam. Once Candy discovered how to get to them, found they were everywhere. One can harvest 150 per person per day. We took about 5 dozen. Had a great time,water was cold,but very clean...away from cities..awaiting first symptoms of hepatitis.We had gone to the local equivalent of WalMart and bought gumboots...the essential footgear of coastal Kiwis. Only $17.50 NZ per pair.
I had heard from friend a great place to collect mussels...so off to Murderers Beach...for musseling...Very windy drive on dirt roads in the hills above Port Chalmers. Saw that first cruise ship of the season was in port. Murderers beach famous..several men from aship came ashore in a dory to gather fresh water and fruit..This was in late 18th century...well they were considered by the local Maoris to be unwelcome, but probably tasty so were killed and eaten... local food gathering site as I mentioned. Lots of New Zealand mussels...took what we needed...stopped at a great old pub at Carey"s Bay and were remembered by the owner from the last visit...Fries, drinks and home exhausted.
RInsed bivalves in fresh water overnight and ate with pasta.
Eat your hearts out...all this free seafood and adventure is 20 minutes from our flat. Like to report weather was sunny and almost warm..or we are getting used to it.
Comments
cockeled with envy
Yes yes....let me go to the store and see if we can get some fake crab for dinner....