Friday 27.01.2023

• Te Araroa kilometres done: 1597
• Official kms: 10km
• Garmin kms: 13.42km (don’t think gps works very well under dense bush)
• Total time: 6:20
• Calories burned: 2454
• Body battery: 6/10 sore body!
• Accommodation: Parawai lodge bed in hut
• Tent nights tally: 14
• Zero days had so far: 11

https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/walking-te-araroa-3000km-for-the-key-to-life

Track me live here:

https://aus-share.explore.garmin.com/curtiss

Today I had a bit of a sleep in & left just after 7:30am. According to the notes it should take 5 to 7 hours to do today so a lot shorter day than the previous two 10+ hour days.

The one thing I’m concerned about is there is a massive slip that you need to navigate 2.5kms before the end of todays hike.

The trail started ok but within a few kilometres there was tree scrambling up, over & under & was quite slow going at times. It seemed to take a long time to do the first 7km. Nearly 4 hours. But then the trail became quite nice for about 1km until I reached the slip…

I went & checked out the old trail that use to go over the original slip but has now disappeared. After this I sat & had lunch for 30 minutes & mentally prepared myself for what was to come. I even read all the notes on the FarOut app to see what was the best option. At this point it also started to rain.

Marko & Frank had attempted this a few days back & informed us it took them about an hour. Reading one of the comments on the app a guy called Mat had posted how it only took him 10 minutes. I studied his directions then set off to climb up & over the slip.

To my surprise it was easy & I also done this in under 10 minutes. It seems people climb too high above the slip & end up scrambling & climbing through vines. I was so pleased with myself to get over it so easy!

It was only less than an hour from this point to the hut & I arrived before 2pm wet from the rain & being the first one here stripped off, dried myself & changed into dry clothes.

Nici turned up about half an hour later. Then slower more people turned up. There is a total of 11 of us here in the hut tonight.

I’ve been in communication with Antonia via the Inreach & she has managed to secure a cabin for the next 2 nights in Waikanae. I have an amazing wife! I’m really looking forward to a hot shower & something good to eat.