Te Araroa, Day 109

Waking up early, I still start late this morning at about 8:30. It feels like all my energy is not yet back after that very long day yesterday. There is a long drop toilet near Tin Hut but when I lift the lid, it is completely full. 

First part today is a climb up to Martha Saddle at about 1650m. It is not difficult and quite gradual but I have no energy. I walk a few steps, stop, walk again and so forth. X takes me over soon and also the couple from Belgium. 

I am glad to see X on a break on top of the saddle. 

After a short break there is a long gradual descent into a nice valley. I am not used to easy walking. This is strange and yes, it did not last.
But first we stop at Top Timaru Hut for lunch.
The next section is demanding. 3 km after the hut we enter a steep forest. The path is extremely narrow, steep and dangerous. There are lots of washouts and we have to try to stay on a few cm wide path and not slip down steeply. It is nerve racking. When we see the river we opt to walk the river,  instead of higher above on those highly dangerous sections. 

The river walk is interesting for the first 2 km and then it is hard. The river is in a gorge and has small banks. Those banks are very rocky, with loose rocks or boulders in all sizes. The ground of the river has the same material and walking on those rocks is hard. We walk from bank to bank, crossing the river uncountable times. It has no even depth, we always have to try to find a passage that is not too deep. Sometimes there is no bank and we have to climb along the rocky gorge when walking in the river is too deep.
It is a very slow walk of about 5 hrs for 10 km. At some point we have to climb up to the higher route again, to get around a waterfall. It is not enjoyable and highly dangerous with a lot of washouts. 

It is already around 7 pm when we try to find a spot for our tents. It is difficult since on the right and left of the river it goes up steeply right away.
About 500m before the end of the river walk, where we have to get on a steep trail to the next hut we find two spots for the night. Sandflies are everywhere. I set up my tent, have a quick wash in the river and prepare my dinner from inside the tent. It is very late until I can try to find sleep.