Te Araroa 33 - Huntly towards Hamilton.

 

27km today. Short walk on road out of Huntly to start of a forest section. 1000 steps up and then up and down for 4 hours. Then 1200 steps down. I went another 7km towards Hamilton to be close enough to get to church. I’m tenting on a stealth site beside the river. 

Location:-

Stealth site

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Pccs5k6wGfHToDcA6?g_st=ipc

Thought for the day. 

Burden

My pack felt really heavy today. Maybe because of the rest yesterday or something. I was thinking of the burdens we carry. 

First the burden of sin. We carry sin and the effect of sin for years, before we find the solution. There is only one solution to sin and that is the cross of Jesus. He is the one that took our sins and died for them, so we can be released. In pilgrims progress there’s an image of pilgrim coming to the cross and his burden falling off. 

Second the burdens we carry.  Jesus said “my yoke is easy and my burden is light”. When we come to Jesus we can bring all our burdens to him. He sometimes takes them away. He sometimes carries them with us. He sometimes gives us the strength to carry them. He never leaves us alone. 

Te Araroa 32 - Huntly (zero day)

 Zero day. Went to town and ate well. Ate the most delicious rhubarb & raspberry pie and coffee in a cafe. Yum. Washed clothes. Relaxed. A few hikers I know came into camp. Good to meet up again. Ready for a mountain trail tomorrow. 

Te Araroa 31 - Mercer to Huntly

 

43km today. The next logical stop. Tough day but overall fun. Started with a boggy section to get to the river. Wet feet all day. Then walking the dike beside the river. They build a dike 100meters from the river in the floodplain so the rest of the land is usable as farm land, even if the river overflows. The dike went through a golf course which was nice. Had dinner in town before getting to campsite. Taking a zero day tomorrow. 

Location:-

Huntly Camping Grounds

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ryDbZYRU2Fpyirao7?g_st=ipc

Te Araroa 30 - Drury to Mercer

 

41.8km today. It was planned to be less but a river was too deep to cross so we had to hike 3km to bridge and back. 6km nearly broke me. So annoying. But got to pub and had a real meal and booked a real bed for the night. I think I deserve it after nearly 42km.   

Location:-

Muddy Waters Irish Pub, Mercer

https://maps.app.goo.gl/uzqJxXN6Gqt17Egs9?g_st=ipc

Free grapefruit on side of road. 

River crossing. 6km walk to bridge. 

Nearly got run over by a train. 

Carp in river. 

Campsite view. 

Te Araroa 29 - Manukau to Drury

 

18.5km to rest after 41 yesterday. It rained for the last 3 hours. Got to a bunk room because of the rain. Most of the day was walking beside motorway but what made the day great was the Botanical Gardens. 

Location:-

Applaud BnB, Drury

https://maps.app.goo.gl/3CPF98QEPSZViMpC7?g_st=ipc

I nearly got distracted by this gravity drop 

but I had passed it and couldn’t get in. 

Right beside the motorway. 

Thought for the day. 

This sign got me thinking. 

Everything you need and more. 

So everything you don’t need!!!

Are we happy with what we need. 

We say the Lord’s Prayer. 

“Give us today our daily bread” (food we need) 

Are we happy with that or do we always want more.

Philippians 4:19

[19] And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

We are not promised luxury but what we need.

When you yearn for more or what others have, ask the question, do I really need it?