Start – Paihia
Finish – Oakura
Daily Distance – 38km (including approx 5km hitching)
TA Distance – 285km
Refreshed after a pretty lazy rest day, today was a day to try and make some decent distance.
Unfortunately, barrier #1 presents itself directly after Paihia. The official TA route calls for a 14km water
taxi ride, which is pretty expensive unless you are traveling in a big group and splitting the cost. Not
being in a particular rush, I chose the alternative method of a £0.50 ride on the vehicle ferry and a 21km
road walk to get back onto the trail. Fortunately having managed to hitch for almost half of the road walk,
I was back on trail with only half a day lost.
Next up was traversing the Russell Forest. Putting my jungle explorer hat back on for another 4km
wading down a river was the highlight of a pleasingly, not to mention unusually, benign forest. That’s not
to say that there weren’t mishaps along the way. Within 200m of extering the river my oaf gene kicked in.
Endeavouring to skirt around some wet rocks I succeeded in losing my footing and pitching (gracefully)
into the river. Queue frenzied splashing while I tried to save my camera, my self and my dignity. Well, as
they say 2 out of 3 ain’t bad. With the only casualty being my pride I was left to appreciate the fine
waterproofing of my camera case and my good fortune slipping in a country where I didn’t resurface with
a crocodile chewing my head and leeches attached to my genitalia.
The post forest plan was to find a flat spot of ground to pitch tents, cook dinner and grab a customarily
early night. Unfortunately, the post forest road had fences right up against the road, so there was
absolutely nowhere to camp. To keep fatigue at bay we started crooning (with considerably more
enthusiasm than talent) classic songs (99 red balloons is a classic right?) and the kilometres flew by.
Well, flew by in a grudging trudge, but as trudges go it was pretty damn speedy let me tell you. One song
deserves special mention though, a Swiss song about an idiot. I’m still unclear his particular idiotic
qualifications because I don’t speak a word of Swiss-German, but it deserves remark as I’m beginning to
get the very clear impression that the Swiss aren’t as lovely as they try to seem!
Anyway, after a seeming age and helped the last few kms by a lovely guy called Don who offered a lift,
we arrived at an official campsite in Oakura, about 3km off-trail. Highlight of the campsite was an
unexpected reunion with Chris, Swiss-Chris, Louis, Tristan and Jenn, who left Paihia yesterday, but took
a more sedate pace to get here. Anyway, it’s late and bed is calling.
