Te Araroa, Day 6

This morning, I left the cozy cabin at 6:30 am. X started about 40 minutes later and, of course, overtook me at some point. He walks fast, carrying fewer kilograms than me; he’s a strong guy, and I can’t help but feel envious.

The first 8 km involve walking on a busy road. A school bus driver stops, offering me a ride, but I decline. After the busy road, another 12 km, mostly on a gravel road, follow. A construction worker inquires about my origin and the duration of my Te Araroa walk. He predicts I’ll still be walking at Christmas and expresses sadness. A farmer mentions that seven people passed before me; however, they were hitchhiking. So far, only X and I seem committed to walking every step from the northernmost to the southernmost point, while others we meet prefer hitchhiking where possible. There’s a significant amount of road walking on the North Island, tempting many to hitch rides.

After a total of about 20 km, the gravel road transforms into a path going uphill through the forest. I struggle uphill, the only annoyance being my heavy pack. I contemplate that it might have been better if I had chosen a lighter quilt and mat. I take a few breaks and, finally, about 7 km before Broadwood, the climb ends, and it’s mostly downhill. At one point, I cross a river, taking off my shoes and socks to wade through the ice-cold water, refreshing my feet.

Three kilometers before Broadwood, a rain shower arrives, and I wait under a tree before finishing the last kilometers. Broadwood is very small. I spend 10 NZ Dollars in a dairy shop for a small patch of grass to set up my tent. X is already there, of course. I have dinner and, for dessert, indulge in a bag of chips and a coke—admittedly not the healthiest choice.

There’s no wind, but the downside is that everything in my tent feels damp. I have a one-wall tent, meaning condensation can be an issue, especially tonight. In my tent, everything I touch feels wet—not ideal. Anyway, tomorrow brings another day of road walking, probably around 20 km.