Start – Twilight Beach Camp
Finish – Maunganui Bluff Camp
Daily Distance – 28km
TA Distance – 40km
First full day of walking and it was pretty tough. Having woken early I was first out of camp at 07:00 and
after a short walk, I dropped down onto a deserted 90 mile beach. Yesterday almost had the feel of a
warm up day and the TA really starts with 90 mile beach. Initially I was flying along, but my fetching
socks and sandals combination seems to have let me down. Great for keeping my feet cool, but coming up
to lunchtime I started developing a pain in the ball of my left foot. I successfully alleviated the symptoms
by going Kiwi and walking all afternoon barefoot, but my feet are somewhat sore and weather beaten
now. Having washed the sand off them I can see that my left foot is sporting an ugly, black blister, which
is cause for concern with 2 more long days ahead before my first rest day in Ahipara. Foot aside, my body
is holding up as well as can be expected and I reached tonight’s camp tired, but intact at 15:00. Reaching
camp so early has gifted my a leisurely afternoon of eating, talking with fellow hikers and eating some
more.
Aching body aside, 90 mile beach is a beautiful, if seemingly endless, place. With spectacular dunes
standing sentinel on the landward side, swirling eddies of sand and swooping gulls it has a lonely, almost
forgotten beauty, which I am glad to have experienced. Having said that, pretty much all of my gear (and
me) is encrusted with sand and I am greatly looking forward to getting to town and taking a long shower.
It’s now 20:00 and my thoughts are turning inexorably towards bedtime with the fading of the light. I feel
very sorry for the poor souls who are still straggling into camp.
Highlight of the day – Finally beginning the infamous 90 mile beach
