Te Araroa, Day 53

I did not sleep much. While having breakfast in the tent, it starts raining. I pack the tent in the rain. Shortly afterwards, the rain stops.

I still enjoy paddling on day two. The river feels a bit slower today, and it seems like we have to work some more. However, just being in quiet nature makes me feel good, at home, at ease.

Exciting are the rapids. We manage all of them without capsizing.

We arrive at camp early and find two nice spots. There is a Māori "Marae" next to a DOC hut (Department of Conservation). We can walk the grounds around the Marae and take pictures only after we attend a ritual.

For that, the women enter the premises first and get seated in the back rows of some benches. Then the men follow, taking their seats in the front. There is a Māori, his cousin, and a Māori boy facing the visitors. The Māori does some reciting, and then the boy follows.

Next, it is required that one of the male visitors says something (no matter what). Then one of the visitor women is supposed to sing a song (no matter what). None of us women volunteer, so the Māori's wife sings a Māori song. After that, we are free to look around.

It is a very hot day today; the sun is very aggressive/harsh here, and I stay in the shade since we set up camp. Again, not much sleep.