Days 47 and 48 National Park to Whakaporo 57k TA 1231

Day 47 National Park to Retaruke Rd 32k

I had some admin to attend to this morning. I had already booked canoe hire for further down the track but I’m on a detour because of a rockslide. I’m going to enter the river earlier than planned and need to sort a new canoe.

If you aren’t a flexible, go with the flow, kind of hiker before the TA, you certainly are by the end of it.

I did a small resupply this morning after breakfast and then headed off down a great dirt track. There must have been some big rain through here recently. It was pretty muddy and sticky underfoot.

It was pretty country, with lots of bush regeneration. I was feeling pretty good and debated whether to push on and make it one big day. I think I could do it but I’m not sure how I would pull up tomorrow. Having just rebooked the canoe hire, I decided not to chance it. I freedom camped just off the track, next to Upper Retaruke Rd.

Day 48 Upper Retaruke Rd to Whakahoro 25k TA 1231

What a great day. It was mostly gravel, so pretty easy underfoot. I had slept really well, although I woke a couple of times to animal noises. I had prepared cold soak oats last night before I went to sleep and had added in yummy things I had picked up yesterday. Raisins, cranberries, coconut and almonds. It tasted great.

I lingered over breaky but still made it to the DOC campground by early afternoon.

There were HEAPS of people here. Sometimes I forget that I am hiking through a high season and then I chance across loads of people and think oh yeah, the summer holidays!

I linked up with some of the other hikers I am buddying with for the river (no one will hire to solo travellers for safety reasons - but they do go to a lot of effort to link people into a group) There were 8 in our group, 6 TA’ers and two section hikers. Of the 6 of us, there were two couples and another solo hire, Jann from Austria. I really hope he knows how to paddle because I’m a little doubtful of my ability.

Because we are going in at an earlier point, the next section should take about five days. Group consensus was let’s do it in four. (There was a couple who wanted to smash it in three). I was pretty sure I would never move my arms again if I committed to that and took a pass.

Perfect campsite. That is all the flat grass I need for my little tent.

Not much to show you on this section. :/)

Catching sight of tomorrow’s adventure :/)