Tuesday 07.03.2023

• Te Araroa kilometres done: 2275.5km
• Official kms: 29km
• Garmin kms: 30.23km
• Total time: 7:28
• Calories burned: 2462
• Body battery: 8/10
• Accommodation: studio unit in Methven.
• Tent nights tally: 18
• Zero days had so far: 22

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Track me live here:

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I woke up just after 6am this morning, it’s pretty light in a thin single wall tent so you generally wake up when it starts getting light.

No rush this morning as we have about 28km of road walking which should only take about 7 hours of walking or less, I’m leaving at 8am & have a pick up scheduled for 4pm to take me into Methven where I’m planning to have a zero day tomorrow.

Alina & Ladina are leaving at the same time & staying in Methven tonight but planning to get back on the trail tomorrow then do a zero in a hut & wait for me on Thursday.

After starting off we decided to stick together & go back on the trail with the shuttle on Thursday morning. Yay! I’m really enjoying their company & how positive & caring they both are.

Not much to talk about today as it was basically gravel road for the first 25km, the scenery of distant mountains was beautiful though. The feet didn’t agree much!

After 25km of road walking with a lunch break by one of the lakes included we turned off onto the Lake hill track, which is actual trail again for 3.5km before going back onto a gravel road & heading down through to the Coleridge settlement.

We made it to the lodge at 3:30 & the owner Alison was there, she invited us in gave us a cold fizzy drink each (mine was a coke) & a homemade chocolate chip cookie while we waited for the shuttle. What an amazing person & awesome hospitality. Her husband & daughter are currently doing the TA trail.

After getting the shuttle into Methven, checking into our cabins we walked into town to get dinner & supplies from the local Foursquare.

Hot chicken & a salad for me with a couple of cold beers. I then called Antonia, it was great to hear her voice! Filled out my census (it’s that time again!) & here I am typing this blog.

It’s a zero day tomorrow, I’m hoping to catch up on my videos! Oh & also stay off my tired feet for a bit. Fun fact: only 750km to go to complete this journey…..