Andy was up and away by 7:15. We're all trying to get to a Dome today, which is 26km away over what looks like tough terrain. I had thought about taking my rest day here but with the campground so-so I've decided to push on and have my rest day while staying with family friends outside Warkworth. They've kindly offered to come and pick me up from Dome this evening...or wherever I get to that's on a road (luckily for me!).
Nathalie was nearly ready to leave when I got up, but I was no slouch and managed to get underway by 8:15--excellent considering I'd slept in til 7:30. I managed to save time by not cooking porridge for breakfast and instead opting for museli bars and a liquid breakfast and chocolate milk drinks bought from the campground shop.
Today's trail heads inland along a gravel road before diverting across farmland by way of a steep, grassy ridge. At the top I had a snack under a large macrocarpa tree before following the Te Hikoi O Te Kiri route along the ridge and then down the back of it and into native bush. I thought I'd reached the top previously, but ahead loomed Mt Tamahunga. It looked steep, but the most disheartening thing was how far down the track went before you started climbing up it. I found myself musing about in which reality the TA trust would have sufficient funds to build a skywalk between the two heights.
The climb back up wasn't as bad as it had looked as there were several false tops where you could catch your breath without having to stop. At the top is a broad grassy area and a low wooden protective shelter, presumably built to preserve the remains of a Pa located at the summit.
I had another quick snack break before heading cheerfully on. I was making good time and Dome seemed within reach...
At a crossroads a sign blocked one track. I must have misread it because apparently this year's version of Te Araroa follows the path the sign was blocking. I took the open route and never bothered to check the GPS as there were clear orange markers all the way down. I did think it was odd that I didn't seem to climb the second summit marked on the map, but reassured by the markers on I ploughed at a fairly rapid pace down the steep root-strewn path. This part of the track had intermittent informative signs about the life cycle of a stoat and efforts to eradicate them, as well as sign naming and describing several of the more dominant native tree species.
Around 1pm I emerged at the carpark on what I thought was Govan Wildon Rd, elated that I had plenty of time to take on the track to Dome. Nathalie txt me; she and Andy were having lunch at the start of the next track which, if I'd been where I thought I was, meant they were only 3km ahead.
I started to get worried when there was no marker saying which way to head down the road, and then again when I turned of the GPS to find I was inexplicably several kilometres off the trail. I walked along the road a bit until I heard voiced coming from the backyard if a house. I called out to ask what road I was on. A man came over followed by an over excited pug that began burrowing through the hedge. Among many a frustrated "Trevor!" and attempts to retrieve the dog from the hedge I ascertained I was on Omaha Valley Rd and that I had taken the alternative trail (yes, it is marked on the map, doh!) down from the summit of Tamahunga. The orange track markers must be from a previous year before land access agreements allowed the TA to continue through onto Govan Wilson Rd. Apparently they don't get taken down...some very colourful words sprang to mind. There was no way I'd make it to Dome today.
I had come down the track thinking every now and then how grateful I was not to have to climb up via this route; there was no way I was climbing all the way back up to find the trail again. 'Besides,' I reasoned, 'the route I took amounts to the same amount of kilometres'. Still seething I took the only alternative option: walk out along the road to civilisation.
Once I got out onto a larger road with more traffic I made a half-hearted attempt at hitching, with no success. I didn't really mind. Part of me felt walking out was like doing penance for my foolish mistake of following the wrong track. I rang Ron, the family friend who had offered to pick me up and explained the situation. Mercifully he was able to come and get me early. While I waited I kept walking and rang Mum, partly to seek comfort in a time of frustration and partly to have someone to tell the tale to in a comic fashion in the hope that I too might sooner see the funny side.
Two kilometres out of Matakana a blue 4WD heading toward me pulled over and I guessed the man behind the wheel to be Ron; certainly the driver seemed to be expecting me. Ron and I have never met in my adult life, although he and Mum go way back, so we did the usual "you must be..." exchange before I gratefully chucked my pack in the back and got in the front. Turns out Ron and his wife Betty's house was not too far away and within a few minutes we were there. It's a lovely place on a quiet road next to a sizeable stream. There's an ornamental cherry in full bloom in the front yard and an impressive series of raised vege patches and citrus trees out the back There's also a short walk down to the stream that's surrounded by natives. It's a homely spot with a little sanctuary-like garden. Ron gave me the grand tour, including an introduction to a loquat fruit tree; the fleshy yellow fruits like an elongate yellow plum have four brown seeds in the middle and a sweet and juicy but not overpowering flavour.
A quick shout out to Ron and Betty! I'm so grateful to them for taking me in. They found out about my trip through Mum and apparently have been following my blog. When they found out how close I'd be walking to their place they got in touch to offer me a place to stay. I soon discovered their generosity goes even further however: Ron has offered to drop me at the start of the track I missed tomorrow so I can finish it, and pick me up again at the end if the day...and do the same for all the sections of track north of Auckland harbour bridge! Incredible! You guys are amazing! I'm not sure if I'll rely on you that far down the line--I also have a friend I want to drop in on who lives just south of Orewa--but we'll see what happens. For now the plan is to walk as far as possible tomorrow, then take a rest day on Sunday to spend time with Ron and Betty (they've invited me along to a lunch Betty's friends are having), and then try to walk to Puhoi on Monday. For now though I was content to shower, drink copious amounts of tea and swap stories about my mother. Apparently I'm quite like her, which I guess is to be expected, but perhaps a little unnerving for Ron at first, as he knew my Mum when she was my age. Certainly it's interesting for me to hear all about her as a young woman! Especially considering my memories of her only start when she was already in her late forties!
After a shower I caught up on my diary while Betty had a nap. Ron is keen for me to meet a friend of theirs named Paula who apparently is a keen hiker/adventurer who has been up Mt Kilamanjaro twice. She was about to go out for the afternoon but we spoke on the phone briefly; she was intrigued to learn about life on the trail and I was amazed to hear about her completion if a non-stop 100km walk around Lake Taupo (in a mere 22 hours!).
My attempts to befriend the Rin and Betty's black cat, "Puss Puss", seem to be going well. Ron made super-yummy stir fry for dinner and afterward we had tea and biscuits for supper (something I haven't done since I was a kid staying the night at Nana's house). Shortly thereafter I crashed on the couch. It might rain tomorrow--doubly glad I'm not in the tent!
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