Te Araroa: Whoa, I’m Halfway There

28.12.2019 Day 69 (34km)

I have officially hit the halfway point of the TA! Although, I’m about 70km short due to road skipping. I’m not concerned, cause there are plenty of side trips I plan to do to make up those kilometers. I will arrive in Bluff with 3,000km. 

The bulk of today was road walking, though there was a nice river section coming out of Palmy, and then we strolled through farm and timberland, where I only saw two or three cars. Carolyn and I hiked through the sun and shade, past rivers and along bike tracks. 

When we arrived at camp, a Maori hut in the middle of a timber forest, we met a whole new group of hikers. They were all older than us and had travel/hiking stories galore. After a few quiet rest days, the laughter and banter was exactly what I needed. 

Day’s Highlights: Excellent conversation

29.12.2019 Day 70 (33km)

It is time for a break; just five to six days till I arrive in Wellington and then I’m sleeping for a week. I have the physical energy to hike, but mentally I’m burnt out. It’s getting increasingly difficult to push through the little pains. My knee still hurts, my other knee is achy, my ankles are weakening, and my hips are raw from my underwear rubbing. It’s just time. 

The mud through the forest was nothing out of the ordinary. A few days had elapsed since the last rain, so most of it was firm enough to walk on. After a while, I didn’t care though. I walked right through, allowing the deeper bits to flow over the tops of my shoes.

The trail crossed and recrossed the same river, so by the end, you couldn’t even tell I had hiked through mud. Although I doubt my shoes will be dry by the morning. As the sun inched towards the horizon, I finished up the day’s walk through a private farm track. The cattled watched me intently, most of them darting away in fear. There was one, however, who merely glanced my way, then continued to chew on the grass, unphased. 

I stayed at the Makahika Outdoor Pursuit Center and splurged on a cabin, due to the rainy forecast. To be honest, I say it was due to the rain but really I just didn’t want to set up my tent. I hadn’t slept in it since the horrible night on Tongariro, where one of my guylines actually snapped in the wind, and I wasn’t eager to return. 

Sally and John, who own the Outdoor Pursuit Center, were absolute angels! They plied me and the other two hikers staying there with food and wine. Since Sally was heading towards Levin the following morning, she offered to give me a lift, so I could respully. 

Day’s Highlights: Real bed tonight