Got up at 5:00 and started at 7:00, as it
was going to be a long day today. Got to know Donna on Te Araroa Facebook page, and would stay at
her place this evening in Whangarei Head that was about 10 hours walk. In the
morning no water in the cabin, but wasn't a big trouble as I god enough water
yesterday.
Trail went up to Mt Kauri and down to ocean beach today. Unfortunately had to negotiate with a small estuary about 10m across at high
tide time. Walked across the section being soaked
in water up to my belly button. After the crossing, walked on soft sand that
made my feet tired. Surprisingly I could hardly see any rubbish on the beach
but only sea shells, sea weeds and drift wood there. It was so comfortable to
walk on a clean beach only with water birds' foot prints.
After the beach,
traversed Mt Lion with lots of ups and downs with steep sections. On a way,
there was a trace of Navy radio station built in the World War II. Arrived at
Donna's place viewing oil refineries on the other side of the bay. Donna cooked
beef salad for dinner and we had it together. Took shower after 6 days, and did
all my washings at her place - that made me feel alive. Baby Girl the cat who
was shy at the beginning became friendly. Thus had a very relaxed evening. Can't thank Donna enough for her kindness. Walked 28km today.
テ・アラロアのフェイスブック・ページで、宿を提供してくれるというドナという女性と知り合った。今日は彼女の自宅のあるファンガレイ・ヘッドまで行くのに約10時間かかるので、早めの5:00に起き7:00に出発。朝キャビンの水道の水が出なくなるトラブルがあったが、飲料水は昨日のうちに汲んでおいたので事なきを得た。
今日のコースは、まずカウリ山を登ってからオーシャンビーチへと降りていくのだが、丁度満潮時と重なり、一か所幅10mほどの小さな干潟をヘソ下まで海水に浸かりながら渡る羽目になった。その後も柔らかい砂浜歩きが続き疲れたが、この国の浜辺には本当にゴミが少なく、落ちているものは貝殻や海藻、流木ばかり。 足跡も水鳥のものが多少あるだけの、まっさらな浜辺を歩くのはとても気持ちが良い。その後はアップダウンの多い、傾斜のきついライオン山をトラバース。途中第二次大戦中に作られた海軍無線基地もあり興味深かった。
最後は対岸にそびえ立つ石油精製所の姿を眺めながらドナの家に着いた。着くとすぐに夕食のビーフサラダを作ってくれ、一緒に食事。その後、6日ぶりにシャワーを浴び、洗濯もさせてもらい生き返った心地がした。最初は様子を伺い近づいてこなかった猫のベビーガールもそのうち慣れ、夜はとても寛いで過ごすことができてドナには感謝の気持ちで一杯。本日の歩行28km。
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