Left campsite and headed south to Orongo a tribal village built into the side of Rano Kau one of the three volcanoes that made the island. Lovely shady walk up hill in eucalyptus wood very nice. Orongo is a ceremonial village where the bird man ceremony was held. Blokes from clans had to jump off 300m cliff, swim to nearest island, grab a seagull egg and get it back to their chief intact. First one back got to be leader for a year. Bit like the great egg race but more physical!
Down the hill, along the length of the runway to the oil station, back down the other half of the runway, into town, one drink and one ice lolly later and we're walking out the other side of town to Ahu Akivi which would have been much easier if the map was accurate. All I can say is there must have been A LOT of Coastal erosion here as the map shows the start of the trail at an Ahu that is inland. It was actually right on the coast. Still of we trot for what the map says is 1.45 hrs of walking. 2 hrs later we have got another 20 mins of our "we turn back at 7" time left and it's still nowhere to be seen. At 7.05 whoop de doo there it is. Very important as it is the only inland Moai and the only ones to face the sea. Something important to do with the equinox....
Back down as quick as poss before sun sets as we have no torch. Make it to Ahu Tahai for sunset great timing.
Stop at cafe for three drinks and a donut as it's too late to cook dinner.
Left at 0930 back to Hostal at 2200 to discover bleeding feet and goodness knows how much dust. No one mentioned the dust. Look like we have taken a dust bath. Shower freezing cold and no clean clothes as bags in storage in airport! Great day though.
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