The Church to the Pahautea Hut 31 k We all awake, un-smited. The world is bedazzled in sparkling dew and rain droplets this morning. A bit of rosy pine forest leads us to a solid morning of farm track crossing. The long grass soaked our legs and shoes as we swished through it. When we …
Month: December 2017
11/30 A Jump to the Left, And a Step to the Right
Hamilton to the Church 18 k We are up early this morning, picking off chores well before 5:30. We attempt to go to the free breakfast at 8:00am, but it consists of milk, cornflakes, Weet-Bix, and PBJs, the bread for which is still frozen. It’s too dismal, and the room is crammed with hikers, which …
Continue reading 11/30 A Jump to the Left, And a Step to the Right
11/29 Hamilton
Hakarimata Forest Track to Hamilton 28 k Well, that didn’t end up being the quietest night ever. Around midnight I heard the scuttling and scratching noises of...something. When I came to, there was a possum against the screen, doing some serious investigating of the pot I had lined up with my shoes and the stove …
11/28 A Little Private Kauri Time
Rangiriri Pies to Hakarimata forest track 27 k We were the last ones to leave this morning again, but it was quiet and peaceful. Cathy’s egg pies had fresh spinach and beets from her garden, and right now she holds the lead for the best coffee on the trail. We return to our strict aerobic …
11/27 Cathy’s Pie Shop
Podge’s Place to Rangiriri Pies 26 k We are packed up around 7:30, and most, actually all, of the other hikers are gone. Prana and I head next door to McDonald’s (or ‘Mackers’ as apparently many other countries call it) to use the internet while we wait for Parker to wake up. In the midst …
11/26 Podge’s Pizza
The Garage to Podge’s Place 23 k We are woken by a bird squeezing into the garage, it’s claws scrabbling on the metal roll of the door, and doing laps. “You’ll never get out now, bird,” mumbles Prana in a sleepy voice, and, just to prove him wrong, the bird scrabbles back out again. I …
11/25 Hunua: Epicenter of Generosity
Kimpton Track to the Garage 25 k The morning dawned wet, everything soaked from the sea of grass we are in. The first night of the tent was a promising one, plenty spacious, the moon able to be seen almost clearly through the happy blue roof. It was a steep climb up along the fence …
11/24 Through the Municipal Maze
Manauka Cove to start of the Kimpton Track 35 k What an amazing sleep! I wish every night was on a custom designed mattress of beach grass. Prana and I take off early, and promptly get off the trail for a ways without realizing it. When we finally notice, its a convolution to get back …
11/23 Birthday Magic
Townhouse to Manauka Cove 26 trail k, 4 bonus k Farewell, townhouse! You have served well. As I double check the kitchen counter for anything we have left behind, I see an envelope with my name on it- Prana must have snuck it there. I save it to open later. We head out, navigating Auckland’s …
muddy shoe memoirs 