Nov. 14, 2023, Pukati Recreation Campsite to Kerikeri, 26,5 km (km 232,6)
When I wake up tent and sleeping back are dry. Thank God. But while having breakfast in the tent, rain starts.
So I pack a wet tent anyway and my socks are still wet from yesterday.
It does not matter as it turns out because after 2 km walk the trail goes through wet grass making sure everything keeps being wet.
There is some hiking through private land between bull paddocks. I have to climb over fences a few times.
Then there is a 5 km stretch of gravel road. A car driving slowly up the gravel road is stopping every hiker along the way. When the car reaches me, the driver, a British guy tells me that he is married to a New Zealand woman and that he has his farm up the road. He always stops hikers along the road to ask them where they are from.
Soon I reach the entrance to the second private land that we have to cross. From here, I catch my first glimpses of the Bay of Islands that we will reach tomorrow.
After the private farmland is there is a pleasant walk along the Kerikeri river with beautiful waterfalls.
My right food hurts a lot and I am very happy when we reach Kerikeri sometime between 2:30 and 3 pm. I started walking at 7:30 am. We stay at a place whose owner says that 30 years ago there was only gras. Her father has planted tropical plants from all over the world and now there are cabins inmidst a beautiful tropical garden. There is also a lot of art work in the garden. Unfortunately, I am too tired to take the time to embark on an endeavor of this beautiful place and my feet need rest.
The owner offers a lift into town and we happily take the offer. After a short stop at the supermarket we indulge in McDonalds food (2 large fries for me), that we eat in a park. Then we check in at Pizza Hut and I take a large Pizza with me "for dessert". On the way back to the accommodation I can hardly walk. My right food is very painful.
We have planned a day off in Paihia but between Kerikeri and Paihia are still 26 km to walk....
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