Start – Jagger’s Camp, Ocean Beach
Finish – Whangarei Falls Youth Hostel
Daily Distance – 18km (+ off-trail hitch to Whangarei)
TA Distance – 399km
Sometimes decisions result in consequences that we never intend. Such has been the case today. Leaving
camp at 06:00 was decided to allow plenty of time to complete the day’s walk and then find a hitch offtrail
to Whangarei. I never anticipated setting out to a morning like this:
*pictures*
I’m honest enough to admit that not all the tears in my eyes were from the fresh morning wind.
The rest of the walk inevitably paled by comparison. The Bream Head track had a nice view from the top,
but the decent via several hundred steps left my legs wobbling and consistently jarred my already painful
calf.
*picture*
After walking up the coast for a way the first car that we tried to flag down amazingly stopped. Dave
(originally from Kent. What is it with me always meeting English ex-pats on this trip?) and Marie weren’t
actually heading to Whangarei, but somehow ended up dropping us off at the door of the hostel that will
be home for the next 3 nights. Truly lovely people.
Having anticipated the walk/hitch taking several hours longer than they actually did I have even had time
to visit the supermarket for necessary supplies (the 2 C’s, cake & coffee) and soak for a decadently long
time in the on-site hot tub. For leg remedial purposes of course.
It has been a good day.
