Start – DOC Puketi Recreation Area
Finish – Kerikeri
Daily Distance – 22km
TA Distance – 221km
Today was a day for changing scenery. Passing into rolling farmland, then through suburban riverside
housing and finally into the small town of Kerikeri, which feels now like a bustling metropolis. I find that
I’m surprisingly sad to have left the forests behind. They were horrendous in large parts, but also beautiful
on occasion and never less than an experience. Still, I can’t deny that after 6 days in the forest it was truly
amazing to be in a place where I could finally buy the chocolate milkshake I’ve been craving for days.
Not something I ever thought to say, but with my sweat and mud caked garb, I did actually feel somewhat
underdressed even for McDonald’s. However, at that point even if my only remaining clothing was a
cunningly wrought leaf-based loincloth I still would have marched straight in there and ordered a large.
Anyway, I may have wandered off topic a little…
Three incidents today really marked how thoughtful and generous people can be. After several days
without fresh food, on two separate occasions I came across free fruit placed by the trail. My final tally
for the day being two oranges and a lemon, which were all the more delicious for being so unexpected.
Talking of unexpected, while helping myself to oranges a man stopped in his truck to chat. Turned out he
was an English ex-pat from the Midlands who had frozen part of his thumb off pulling a sledge to the
North pole. Interesting fellow.
The third event was Paul’s leaving drinks and dinner, which he generously (and unwisely) picked up the
tab for. Kerikeri marks the end of his first TA section, to be resumed later in the year, so it was great to
help send him home to Hawkes Bay with good cheer, food and a few well earned pints. Damn, I mean
litres, I still can’t get the hang of metric drinks ordering!
