Sunday 16.04.2023

• Te Araroa kilometres done: 2902
• Official kms: 0 (bypass/detour)
• Garmin kms: 15.31km
• Total time: 3:12
• Calories burned: 880
• Body battery: 8/10
• Accommodation: Otautau Hotel
• Tent nights tally: 19
• Zero days had so far: 32

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

This morning I said goodbye to the hikers I had been walking with for the last few days. Manun was the first to leave followed by Coral at 7:20am.

I sat around chatting and having coffee with Brooke, Scott & Hamish before they took off just before 9am.

This left me alone at the hut so I packed, swept the hut & was on my way just after 9am.

Very short day today as I’m only walking just over 15km to Otautau where I have accommodation booked at the Hotel.

The whole 3+ hours was on sealed road & I just walked in my thoughts. No music today. I did receive an awesome message from Mike King & the crew doing the Due Drop Hope challenge which gave me such a good boost!

I arrived in Otautau just after 12pm & stopped at the 4Square for a pie & a coke (classic kiwi lunch!). From here it was only 800 metres to my accommodation & I was lucky they checked me in before 1pm!

After arriving I had a hot shower then went to the pub for a well deserved beer! The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing in the nice room that I’m staying in!

25km tomorrow & then a zero at Riverton. It’s all road walking as well but hopefully no longer than 6 hours.

So close now……