I splurged on a room in Hamilton last night, right near the Countdown so I could do a full resupply. I had sent an equipment resupply to Hamilton so I collected that and then chilled for the afternoon, doing some minor equipment repairs and letting Katie rest.
I did rouse myself long enough to commit to a yoga routine I’ve inelegantly pulled together to stretch out my body.
I’m certainly getting more fit but my muscles are fairly tight, even with my relatively light pack.
I think it is probably the repetitive arm and leg movements, k after k after k. I’m still using my sticks (hiking poles, best things ever) except when I am on the road or walking through town. The sticks have contributed enormously to my trail stability while I’m wearing trail runners instead of my boots.
I walked off through town to the West Rail Trail, past the railway station, and then southwest across farmland, via a footpath, to the Taitua Arboretum.
Oh I love trees.
I love standing in the middle of a forest, surrounded by these tall sentinels from another time, their canopies spreading ever outward like a green ribbon of endless possibilities.
It really just transports me to a tangible place of joy and peace.
Perhaps I was a wood spirite in an earlier life (quick nod there to Enid Blyton whose books I escaped to as a child) and yes I know, some of you are nodding your heads now. Knowing that helps you to make sense of me, right?) :/)
Anyway...
The arboretum is 20 hectares of trees, lakes and gardens. I should have looked ahead in my trail notes. I could have spent yesterday afternoon here instead of in town.
As awesome as the Arboretum is, I didn’t linger too long. I had 28k of mixed trail ahead of me and while some it is backroads, paths and paddocks, I also had a big chunk of walking along the verge of SHs. I needed to do this in daylight.
The farms were beautiful though, green and lush. A couple of weeks ago, this trail section was still closed for lambing season. I saw heaps of spring lambs, still with tails attached.
I stopped for a cold drink at Whatawhata and bought some lunch. NZ mob seem obsessed with mince on toast. The special today was ‘gourmet mince on toast’.
Who could resist?
I hiked another 15km or so after Whatawhata, along the Kapamahunga Walkway, past a rural airstrip and then it was down to the river before following the road southwest to the DoC picnic area at Kaniwhaniwha Stream. That’s me, done for the day.
Trees, glorious trees
Dinner? :/)
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