Day 6: Waipapakauri to Ahipara (14km; 101km total)

Best sleep yet--no surprise really, being indoors out of the wind, in a bed with sheets and a pillow...spoilt!

I woke up at 6:30, achy but rested and muscles no longer tight (I have decided my thrashy sleep pattern must work out all the kinks in the nights and that it works best when not constricted by a sleeping bag!). It was only a short run to Ahipara today so I took my time getting ready and caught up on my trip diary. My face is peeling again (for the third morning in a row, despite daily use of dry skin cream). I have been diligent with the application and timely reapplication of sunscreen so I can only assume it's from the wind. Some wind.

I had the last of my porridge for brekky and washed my pot set (with actual dish washing liquid for the first time), then packed up and headed off at 9am.  My pack feels light now I'm only carrying a day's water and have virtually no food left...but I'm sure resupply in Ahipara will fix that.

My hip and knee are still a bit twingy so I took care to walk along small ridges/runnels, to try and keep my footing even. I was able to make good time over the harder sand but slowed as the incoming tide forced me up the beach onto softer sand.  I passed little on the way except for a group of not-very-talkative people fishing for snapper, and a couple of cars making a late dash along the beach before the high tide. An oyster catcher trundled along beside and a little ahead of me for a while, snatching at slow-closing shellfish in the surf, and also a seagull shadowed me overhead for a time, presumably perplexed by this slow moving creature singing to the wind (anything to keep my mind off various sore and tired body bits).

Today's walking song was "Shall We Dance?" (from The King And I). It took me a bout a kilometre or so to remember all the words (or make up fitting alternatives...?) and also work out the correct notes (there's one bit I just cannot get right!). This was followed by a bit of a Disney medley before launching into the full length Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, followed be a full sing through of Phantom of the Opera. "Shall We Dance?" made a brief reprisal after each rest break...and with that I was Ahipara--and had conquered 90 Mile Beach!

Ahipara in sight!

The YHA in Ahipara is a nicely set up holiday park run by a guy named Sandy and his Mum. They seemed a little suspicious of my cheerfulness, but after already having to take three hikers to the hospital upon arrival this season perhaps that's understandable. Check-in, room key, shower! It was only about 3:30pm so the place was pretty quiet. I was first to check into the dorm so I took advantage of the space (and nice weather) to lay out all my gear to let it air. Rejuvenated and with the critical process of clothes laundering underway I walked (very slowly and stiffly) the 2km into town to seek out something to eat and resupply for the next leg of the walk. Immediate food requirements were satisfied at the local chippy (chips and sausages...I don't normally order sausages but I'd been craving them ever since Asayako cooked herself some for dinner in Hukatere!). Unfortunately trail food supply options in Ahipara are somewhat limited.  The obvious option is the shop/post office, and I just about fell over when I went in and found pasta snacks ranged from $4.60-$5.90 EACH.  A bunch of other stuff in the shop seems reasonably priced so I figure the shop is making a killing from food-desperate hikers unwilling to hitch into Kaitaia to resupply. Unfortunately I pretty much fall into that category.  I have never hitch-hiked and honestly am a little scared of trying.  Add to this that today specifically the chance of hitching to Kaitaia were pretty good, but the chances of getting back again that night seemed somewhat remote. Abandoning the overpriced shop I returned to the chippy where this shop owner had also obviuosly realised there's a bit of a dehydrated food niche developing in Ahipara, and managed to score some pasta snacks for a more reasonable $2.50 each, along with a new bag of Farmbake cookies and a box of muesli bars. Remembering the holiday park had a good supply of stuff for sale behind the desk I trusted to hope that it would have what I need and be reasonably priced and headed back (passing a couple of weary hikers on their way out to the highway to hitch and stay the night in Kaitaia).

Back at the holiday park the food was reasonably priced (equivalent to the chippy) so I stocked up on all the rest of the things I needed. Unfortunately nowhere in Ahipara sells porridge so I'll have to content myself with muesli for breakfast for the next leg of the trip.

Fully restocked I made myself at home in the foyer/TV room. Content with a couch, a cushion and a cider I sat and caught up on some blog entries while watching "Speed". By 7:30 pm I crashed and went to bed. Time to take on the Northland Forests tomorrow!