Start – Bog Inn Hut (the timber trail)
Finish – nr Piropiro campground (the timber trail)
Daily Distance – 34 km
TA Distance – 1021 km
1000 kms! This milestone has really crept up on me. It still only seems like a few days since setting out
for Cape Reinga and yet now 1/3 of the trail is done. I find this both a happy and sad thought. I find
myself missing family and friends every day. I wish I could share more of the journey than I can convey
in these posts, but writing them, for me at least, makes the distance home seem smaller. On the other
hand, part of me never wants the journey to end. It has been the hardest task I have ever undertaken, but
the most rewarding. Through the months of planning and these weeks of walking I have never really
believed myself capable of completing this trail. 3000km is just too large a number, my mind still rebels
at the thought that “adventurers” are just people too, and if they are then they’re certainly not people like
me. Still, I can’t deny that while I never expected to make it this far, here I am nonetheless.
The trail today reminded me of the film “A walk in the woods”, based on the Bill Bryson book. In it he
walks a large section of the Appalachian trail in the eastern united states. Nicely even paths winding
through quiet forests with circadas chirruping in the dappled summer sun. Maybe walking solo is giving
me too much time to daydream, but I have enjoyed day 2 on the timber trail every bit as much as day 1.
Addendum
I wanted to see the forest by the light of the full moon, so pushed on for another 14km at 19:00 after a
long afternoon rest. I also ate the last of my chocolate tonight, so the idea of pushing on to town has
acquired a considerably greater urgency. I never suspected the forest to appear more alive after dark than
during the day. As the light faded bunnies were bounding about and the onset of dark brought the flutter
of bats. However, the greatest surprise were the host of glowworms perched on the forest banks like 1000
tiny, green eyes. I had originally intended staying up to greet my birthday. However, upon remembering
that (tenuous) claims to still be in my early 30s will forevermore be denied me I went to bed. Still, 22:30
is the latest, most rock n roll bedtime of the trip so far mind, so perhaps all is not lost.
