Te Araroa, Day 90

We rise early this morning and pack our bags in the common room of the hut. Then we wait for the daylight. It is windy outside and the sky is covered with clouds. The rain is close.

As soon as there is enough light, we start walking. There are almost no pictures because around 8 am the rain starts. I wear my poncho and rain pants and just walk. My feet are wet already from the wet grass. The rain makes no difference. Same with the river crossings.

The only break I have is after about 3-4 hrs. There is a very old hut, that gives some shelter.

X has been there for a while when I arrive. I eat a protein bar. The next real hut is in 3 km. Then there is nothing until Boyle. I want to try to walk through to Boyle.

X is determined to get there before 3 pm. I doubt that I will make it. We get out of the Shelter and into the rain. X disappears quickly. I walk. The rain never stops. Most of the walk today is walking up and down in the forest. In the beginning there were puddles, they become deep puddles and after some hours there is a lot of stream walking in the forest. At one point there is a river crossing that is deep, water not clear, with a strong current. I am not happy when I approach it.

I am looking for some signs where I could cross, when I see X at the other side. I am glad to see him. He knows that I would struggle and waited in the rain... about 45 min. He signals me where to cross. I am grateful. He now has to move even faster to get to Boyle in time.

Since my backpack's straps loosen all the time I have to get under the poncho with my wet arm to adjust it. So the Poncho soon is wet inside....

I walk without break. There is no shelter. I only stop to quickly eat another protein bar. I reach Boyle at 2:45 and am glad that I can get my resupply box. The cabin we just booked turns out to be a very cramped and crowded dormitory. We don't want that now. So, dripping wet and freezing, we undo the booking and order a Shuttle to pick us up and get us to the next town, 45 min away. We are told to wait at a bus stop, since the driver has to drive up from that town (Hammer Springs) and it takes at least those 45 min. The bus stop is sheltered. I am so wet and cold. When the driver comes we are glad to see Claudio, another walker just arriving. He joins our ride. Even though the shuttle is heated, we keep on freezing all the way to Hammer Springs. The hot shower and heating in the room are so good. It was a long day in the rain. I don't want to have to do this again.

Inside Rokeby hut, we used for the break on the way to Boyle: