Te Araroa, Day 18

I wake up very early, having breakfast at 4:15 am. I silently pack everything, including a wet tent and a slightly wet quilt, and start walking at 5:40, just before sunrise.

The first part today involves climbing up this "Mount Manaia" to 476 m in 2.5 km. Then, there are another 5 km in this mountain before descending to a bay. These 7.5 km are estimated to take 5-6 hours.

The beginning is enjoyable; it goes up steeply, but there are plenty of views. I particularly appreciate the early morning light.

The picture above is looking back to the beach we walked yesterday and the hill / mountain at the end that was to climb after the last river crossing.

I enjoy some more playful paintings of the early morning sun, before I have to disappear into the dense rain forest.

Soon, I’m walking in the forest, with no views anymore. The walk across this mountain is challenging, feeling like traversing seven mountains with steep ups and downs, along with the obligatory mud. It’s slow and careful walking, with stairs distributed along the route.

Many stairs are encountered at the final descent. My thighs tremble during short breaks. I’m relieved when I finally find my way off that mountain, feeling both done and hungry, as if I could eat a horse. The first view, coming off this "killer mountain", is to a lovely bay:

There’s about a 7 km road walk along that coast, with up and downs, to a pier, from where we cross the bay to a refinery and start a beach walk.

Along the road I see the following sign: 

It refers to that "killer mountain"; the picture fits. There is information stating that the club members meet regularly, and visitors are welcome. I feel like it’s a kind of self-help group for those like me, who thought the mountain was there to never let me off again.

Next stop is a fish and chips shop. When I reach the shop, I can hardly talk. Besides some soft drinks, I order a large portion of fries and a vegetarian burger, which, after that mountain and the 7 km along the road, tastes surprisingly good.

I completed the mountain section in 4 hours and 40 minutes, though it felt much longer. Including the road walk, eating, and waiting for the boat as well as the ride to the refinery at the other side, it’s around 3 pm when I start the beach walk to the camping site at Ruakaka. The walk at the beach has to be shortened to 6 km due to an impassable river crossing because of the tide. Instead there is another 4 km road walk.

Crossing the bay to get to the refinery and the beginning of the beach walk to Ruakaka:

Arriving at the refinery, welcomed by a cloud that contains a rainbow:

And on the beach again:

After the last 4 km of road walking, the Motor Camp is reached. It was indeed a long day.