Te Araroa 16 - Woolleys Bay to Nikau Bay.

 

I got up at 5:45 to see sunrise. Started walking at 7:30, same as before road, gravel and track. 

Got to town and resupplied and had lunch. Got to north side of inlet and south side camp owner arrived with boat. Put my pack in boat but decided to walk&swin the inlet. I nearly died, it was deeper and further and more current than expected. Made it but was wrecked. The campsite is lovely. I’m camped on the seashore. 

If you don’t have a glass, improvise 

My camp spot. 

Even a fire. 

I couldn’t find marshmallows in the shop!!!

Thought for the day. 

Stick and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me. 

I think this is not exactly true. 

James 3:4-6

[4] Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. [5] So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. 

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!  [6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

The tongue can light a fire that takes years to put out. We need to watch what we say. Also we need to be quick to ask for forgiveness. 

Te Araroa 15 - Kōmanawa Camping to Woolleys Bay

 

I got up at 6 and hit the road at 7:45 18k tarred road again. Then short 2km  forest. Then beach path for 10km. 

Had a swim in the sea at the camping spot. You have to count the hours not the km’s. I do 5km on road, 3km in forest. If you count the km’s they go by real slow. If you count the hours you get finished easier. Passed lots of beaches today. Amazing coast line. Just completed half a million steps. 

Te Araroa 14 - The Farm to Kōmanawa Camping

  I got up at 6 and hit the road at 7:30. 18k tarred road which is not pleasant. Then into forest which is much better. Lots of steps uphill but much better than road. Last 4km on gravel road which again is better than tarred road. 

Had a swim in river, so cold, so good. 

Lots of people here. 

I must confess I’m on 7/10 enjoying the trail. The road walking is not pleasant. I now know there is 16% road walking!!!!

Te Araroa 13 - Rest day at the Farm

 I got up at 7. Lazed around all day. Caught up on sermons from home. Went for a little walk around the farm. Dinner provided by the farm again tonight. So good when you’ve been eating trail food for a while. Worked out what the trail looks like ahead. I have to plan where to stop. There is some estuary crossing that must to be done at low tide. The low tide at the moment is midday and midnight. Hard to plan to arrive at the correct time. 

“The Farm”

You see a flash of blue and hard to get close. 

Te Araroa 12 - Paihia to the Farm

 

Dawn

I got up at 5:45, started walking 7.

4km to ferry, $2.5 for the short trip to other side. First bit of walking was nice, in tropical forest, lots of up and down. Next 12km was tarred road with lots of cars and quite dangerous. Then onto dirt road to slowly climb 300m. Nice in the forest, lots of amazing trees and birds. Last 4km on tarred road again. 

Nice to reach “the farm”. I’m taking a bunk for 2 nights. I’ve been slogging the miles and need a rest. 

Te Araroa 11 - Kerikeri to Paihia

 

I got up at 5:30, layed table for breakfast. I cooked for the 4 of us in our trail family. Sausages, rasher, mushrooms, tomatoes and eggs. Toast on the side. Yum. Late start 8:05 on track. Hot day but got to camp site 2pm. Swam in the sea to cool down. Only Steffie left of my trail family. 

The forest walk was missing a forest. 

Camped right on the sea front. 

It might be me but I don’t think our moon is ever on this angle.