North Island Day 23, 25/09/17 ~ 北島第23日・2017年9月25日

As being expected for a long day today, started at 7:30 just after the day break. The first half about 20km went through a sealed road and sandy beach. Blisters got worse these days wearing boots, so I put on sandals today.

There was a roped area to protect nestling of water birds like NZ Dotterel. It was smooth down to the point across a small river. It was high tide and water was unexpectedly deep - it came up to under my chest. Large Pakiri river ahead is impassible during high tide, so picked up a detour route inland on the map. It was a private road and bumped into a garden of someone's house. Luckily there was no one there, and passed through the place to the public road. Was nervous as it could be trespassing.

When walking on the road, met a child from a farmhouse nearby. He was going to buy an icecream at the shop, so decided to go with him. Bought an ice-cream for myself, too, and filled my water bottle which helped me a lot later. Said bye to the child, and went on.

Came to a mountain trail after an hour walk. Saw a sign at the entrance of the track that said 7km, 4-5 hours walk - doubted my eyes. It was already 15:00 and the campsite I was staying at will be more than 10km away from the point. Needed to walk really hard to get there by sunset. Steep uphill continued that made me sweat a lot. Was extra hard as having walked 25km already from early morning. On downhill section was steep, muddy and slippery that made me struggle to how to get down: that explained it takes a long time to go.

Lost my way many times - even accidentally walked back the way I have came down. Became breathless, and made my way through this forest in 3 hours. Another hour walk to the place for camping. When I pitched a tent at backyard of a residence, it was after 19:00 and getting dark. Was a long day. Walked 35km (actual distance was 40km including detour?) today.

　今日は長距離の移動を予定していたので、夜が明けて間もない7時半に出発。前半20km少々は道路と砂浜。ここ数日登山靴を履いてまた靴擦れが悪化してたのでサンダルで進む。

　ロープが張ってありニュージーランドチドリなどの営巣地を保護していた。順調に進んでいたが、小さな皮に丁度満潮時にさしかかるとこれが意外に深く、胸下まで水に浸かってしまった。その先にある大きなパキリ川は満潮時には渡れないので、地図を見てた前で内陸へと入ったが、これが私道で、民家の庭先に出てしまった。幸い家人は不在でそのまま通り抜け公道へ。不法侵入に問われかねず、少し焦った。

　公道を歩いていると、近所の農家からできて子が近くの店にアイスクリームを買いに行くというので一緒に行き、自分も食べ、ついでに水筒も水で一杯にしてもらったが、これが後に大正解となる。子供と別れ先を急ぐ。

　さらに一時間歩いた所から山道となり、入り口の看板に7kmで4〜5時間とあるのを見て目を疑った。この時点で15:00、予定のキャンプ地まではまだ10km以上ある。これでは日没と競争だ。いきなりの急登が続き、汗が滝のように流れ出す。朝から既に25km歩いた後だけに余計きつい。下りは逆に足の置き場に困るほどドロドロの滑りやすい急坂。時間がかかる訳だ。