Te Araroa, New Zealand 2015-16 | nancyhikes

Day 1. 5 RIDES AND I’M NOW WALKING. November 3, 2015

12 K (It’s NZ so all distances will be in kilometers)

I met so many friendly Kiwis today. It took 5 rides to cover the 110 kilometers to Cape Reinga. And almost 3 hours. Each was interesting. Frances, an equestrian, got me 6 k to a road junction so every car was going my way. Frank was taking his daughter to school and dropped me off across from a mobile coffee stand. So I had to get a long black. Mike was on his way to Bluff, where I will camp tomorrow night. Herb is a lumberman and on his way to work. And the last woman was going to Cape Reinga to try to sell cold drinks.

Cape Reinga is a spectacular place to start a hike.

I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day to start walking. 60% chance of rain but it hasn’t rained yet. Temperature was perfect for walking. The views were spectacular. I walked across 2 beaches and fairly steep headlands in between. I’m sure I will tire of beach walking by the end of 90 Mile Beach but today I loved it.

I am now at Twilight Beach. DOC (department of conservation) has a gazebo cooking shelter, a water tank and 2 toilets. It’s right up the stairs from the beach but somehow the trail notes don’t say anything about it. I had read a few blogs so I was expecting it.

I got to this camp about 2:30. A couple hours later Sam and Malcolm from North Carolina showed up. Then the Germans from yesterday’s bus, Cecile and Lucas, arrived. And even later Chaos, Pumpkinhead (Tom) and Rebecca got here. It’s pretty amazing how many TA hikers we have all together. The numbers have been going up every year. So, yes, I am hiking alone but I am not alone.