Tuesday 31.01.2023

• Te Araroa kilometres done: 1671.5km
• Official kms: 28km
• Garmin kms: 27.75km
• Total time: 8:30
• Calories burned: 3190
• Body battery: 7/10 feeling better after a better nights sleep.
• Accommodation: Bed in dorm room at Camp Elsdon.
• Tent nights tally: 14
• Zero days had so far: 12

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

My alarm was set for 6am & I slept through until then! I have a 28+km day today so am hoping to leave around 8am. Mike is in the cabin next door, he is not generally a morning person so we will have to wait & see what time he gets up & ready.

Well, Mike was ready before me! He sat around waiting for me. We took off just before 8am & walked the 2km back into the centre again (we did this yesterday afternoon). We stopped here for a takeaway coffee before continuing on.

After a few kilometres we made it to the start of the Escarpment track. There was a warning sign to let you know it is steep, exposed & on edge. Interesting.

We started a steep ascent initially with stairs & switch backs & then it eased off. It was a fairly decent track & wasn’t too bad to climb & descend.

It wasn’t long before another hiker caught up behind us, to my surprise it was Sam. I hadn’t seen him since before Waitomo where we camped after Pirongia, that was before Christmas & 800 kilometres ago! He then walked with us for about 5km until we stopped for an early lunch at the dairy.

The dairy was about 12km in, considering it was another hot day I decided an ice cream was in order. The dairy only had Hokey Pokey left so it was an easy choice!

We walked a further 6km into Plimmerton where Mike called it a day, this is where the train station was so he could get a ride back to Paekakariki & walk 2km back to his car. Really good effort doing a 16km yesterday & an 20km today! The terrain wasn’t that pleasing on the feet either! I continued on as it was only 10km to go from here, I’m staying with Mike the next few nights so will be catching up with him tomorrow.

Once arriving in Porirua I stopped at the local New World to grab some stuff for dinner & breakfast tomorrow as well as 2 cans of Heineken, I think I deserve them after todays heat!

With 2km left & a heavier pack with my few bits & pieces from the supermarket I set off again.

It wasn’t too long before I got to the camp ground where I had prebooked a room (prison cell).

It’s actually not too bad considering it was only $28 for the night, I’ve paid as much for a tent site before & at least this bed should stay up tonight (I really need to sort out my airmat!)

It’s been a chilled evening & I’m almost ready for bed. Tomorrow looks like a few decent climbs & I’m hoping to make it into Wellington central, which will mean a 31km day.

That’s the aim anyway, I will let you know tomorrow how I go……