Given the content and length of my last couple of posts, I’m going to refocus back on hiking and will condense some of the days so you are not having to endlessly read my thoughts on the world or what I ate for breakfast.
I have found that while I am thinking a lot while I’m walking (hey look, I’m already back doing what I said I was stopping!), I’m not writing very much at night. I am usually really beat and looking to finish my night camp routine, look at the stars, check weather reports, read trail notes for the next day and then head to bed (sleeping bag).
I also seem to have stopped whipping the phone out during the day to take heaps of photos.
This happened on my last thru hike as well. My photo game starts strong and then, I just seem to get lost into my day and forget.
My next hike, I think I will try for more discipline from the start. Some hikers I have talked with take one photo a day, at the same time every day and that gets them by. It seems I’m not the only one who gets caught in the moment and forgets to record the journey!
Anyway, I’m off and heading for my first stop, Helena Bay (28km).
It’s overcast and I almost got lost (again!). Not really I guess, I just need to pay attention! It has happened enough that I’ve stopped having that quick heart thud when I look around and see... no one and no landmarks. Like my son said, I’m on an island and I’m walking south. Just keep walking!
This is a really terrific part of the TA and it is spectacularly pretty in places.
And Katie and I have came to an agreement. She will be a constant pain and I will ignore her.
Works well.
This whole section to Peach Cove (Whangerai Heads) included road walking (of course it did), river crossings, creek crossings, estuary crossings, farm tracks, bush, coastal tracks, mangroves, private forest, commercial forest, private land, a boat crossing (thanks James!) and a water taxi.
I’ve lost count of the number of water crossings but I can tell you I was definitely wet or had wet feet, every day.
The forests were great too although there was one ridge line (Kaikanuii) that went on and on. And on.
Sweat was dripping off me and for the first time this trip, I broke out the electrolytes (should have done it sooner, better for me AND it makes my pack lighter! Win/win!)
There were also several boot and equipment cleaning stations throughout this section. I admire DoC’s commitment to containing disease in the bush and protecting the flora and fauna.
My trail legs finally kicked in along here and I can feel I am getting stronger and pulling up better. I still hate the first 20 minutes of the morning though when I start hiking again. It takes a while for everything to loosen up! I’m so getting old!
A couple of things to note: I came across the longest footbridge in the Southern Hemisphere which is awesome, there is a WWII naval radar to check out on the way to Bream Head summit and... Mackerel Forest didn’t have any Mackerel!
Ripped off!
I also discovered that while I really love being in the bush on my own, and camping solo at night in my awesome tent is the bees knees, I really, really don’t like being the only person staying at a camp park, even if I am staying in a cabin. It feels very... Bates Motel.
Eek.
Awesome baby fern frond
Whananaki foot bridge
Happy. Tired.
Somewhere in there is my camp for the night.
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