Saturday 25.02.2023

• Te Araroa kilometres done: 2087km
• Official kms: 29.7km
• Garmin kms: 30.75km
• Total time: 8:01
• Calories burned: 3405
• Body battery: 8/10
• Accommodation: Home! With Antonia
• Tent nights tally: 15
• Zero days had so far: 20

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 get to see Antonia! So happy, I’m looking forward to a couple of days off at home with her. This is also Marks last day on the trail, he flys home tomorrow. Ladina & Alina are also unsure of their plans, I have really enjoyed their company & hope I can hike with them in the future.

Oh & two others turned up last night just as we were going to bed at 8:30pm. They had come all the way from Blue lake hut, that’s over 40km including doing Waiau pass! They said the pass was dangerous with ice & no visibility so I’m glad we did it the day before!

Just to be out early enough we are leaving at 7am with an aim to be out by 3pm.

It was a cold & overcast start to the morning, we all set off at a good pace & made it up to Anne saddle within 2 hours where we stopped for a 10 minute break.

After starting off again in was a long slow descent (my weakness) I ended up a little behind the other 3 & once on the open flat valley I could see them within a 100 metres or so in front of me.

We carried on until Boyle flat hut before stopping for an early lunch. At this point I walked on a little bit to do the last little climb & sit under a tree for lunch while the other 3 went across the swing bridge for lunch.

From here it being only 12 kilometres to the car park I was excited to get out & see Antonia, only stopping to talk to people who were walking in either for their weekend hike or NOBOs (Northbound Te Araroa hikers).

Within the last 4 kilometres the 4 of us were all back together & walked out & finished this section together which is awesome!

It was sad to leave the 2 girls behind but also good to be going home for a few days. Alina & Ladina are staying at Boyle & camping the night then carrying on from there tomorrow. I am having 2 zero days at home.

Hopefully they will do a couple of side trips to hot pools on the way through Harpers pass & I can catch up.

Antonia, Mark & I got home, showered & went out for a nice meal before relaxing back at the house for the evening.

This has been an amazing 6 days doing Nelson lakes section.