Monday 06.02.2023

• Te Araroa kilometres done: 1743.5km
• Official kms: 28km
• Garmin kms: 29.21km
• Total time: 7:41
• Calories burned: 3783
• Body battery: 8/10
• Accommodation: Bed at Punga lodge.
• Tent nights tally: 14
• Zero days had so far: 15

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We don’t have to catch the Ferry until 9:30 this morning so there was no rush to get out of the Airbnb. We had everything packed & left just after 8:30am & headed into town to find some breakfast to grab & go. Unfortunately it’s Waitangi Day & most places are closed. I settled for a pie & a V from the local 4Square.

We drove down to the Ferry where I said goodbye to Antonia & the dogs, I’m hoping to see her in less than 3 weeks when Mark & I will come out of the St James at Boyle village. It was amazing to have spent the weekend with her!

Lester & I proceeded to board the Ferry & it wasn’t long before we took off.

We didn’t land at Ships Cove until just after 10:30am, after sorting out my hiking pole malfunction where we couldn’t unlock them we were off around 11am.

The 1st 10km or so start with two 200 metre climbs, but the track gradient is amazing, so it’s a fairly easy climb.

After about 16km & 4 hours we had reached Furneaux lodge where we had a late lunch being 3pm. I treated myself to wedges & an ice cream. This would be our 1st & only break as we needed to do the next 12+kms to Punga lodge & get checked in & showered as we had previously booked dinner for 7pm. We promptly left Furneaux lodge at 3:30pm aiming to get to Punga by 6:30pm.

The next 12.5km seemed to drag on & my legs actually started feeling fatigued. 3 days off also does this to me, the last time I felt sore like this was leaving Whanganui after not walking for 7 days (5 day’s canoeing & 2 zero days). We managed to get in just after 6:30, check in, walk up 2 our rooms & get showered. Making our dinner reservation just on time.

The entrees looked so good that we both got 2 each for dinner with a ginger beer for me & a lemon lime bitters for Lester. It was amazing food & just enough!

It feels good to be showered, feed, talked to my amazing wife & lying on a nice bed! Tomorrow should be easier especially with starting walking earlier. We might even get a swim in tomorrow afternoon!