Wanted to go far in the early morning with less traffic, so got up
at 4:30. Waited till getting bright enough to walk safely, and started at 6:30. Kept walking down south along State Highway 4. Trekking alone along the road with traffic
at speed sometimes made me feel idly - so tried to think in a different way:
anyone who can drive could move from one town to the other in 1 hour by a car, but
how many of them could walk the same distance in 48 hours with a 20kg+ load on back? Couldn't this be an
achievement if I make it?
At that very moment, there happened a great event
that vanished my odd self-talk! A couple getting out from their car parked
ahead of me called "Hi, Eiji!!" Looked at them with a surprise, they were
Paul and Karen, my good old ex-colleagues at Milford Guided Walks of Ultimate
Hikes, and I haven't heard from them for ages. Their kids were there in the
car, too. Had a talk with my dear old friends, and went on separate ways
promising reunion soon.
Among the TA walkers, a happy and surprising event is
often called "A Trail Magic", and it was a classical case. Restarted
walking being encouraged by traffic sign that told me I was getting there. When
arriving at Taumaranui and seeing a red M sign at 13:30, couldn't help myself
rushing into the burger shop that I usually do not go for lunch. Went shopping,
and arrived at a holiday park out of town at 15:30. Had a TA walker deal
$16/night from $18. Did washing and dried wet gears to get ready for Tongariro
walk tomorrow. Just beside the campsite, Wanganui river that I was planning to
canoe later was flowing. Walked 37km today.
交通量の少ない早朝のうちに少しでも距離を稼ごうと4:30に起き、安全に歩ける明るさになった6:30に出発。またひたすら国道4号を南下。すぐ横を車がビュンビュン走る脇を一人トボトボ歩いていると時々虚しくなるが、逆にこうも考えてみる。「誰でも運転さえできれば2つの町を車で1時間で移動できるが、果してそのうちの何割の人がこの距離を20数kgの荷を背負って48時間以内で歩けるだろうか？これも何かの達成と言えるのでは？」
その時、そんなモヤモヤした気持ちが吹き飛ぶ出来事が！前方に止まった車から降りてきたカップルが「やあ、エイジ！」と声をかけてきてきた。びっくりして良く見ると、何と以前ミルフォードトラックでトレッキング・ガイドとして働いていた時の仲の良かった同僚で、その後音信不通になっていたポールとカレン、そしてその二人の子供達だった。懐かしくてその場でしばらく立ち話をし、すぐの再会を約束して別れた。
TAウォーカーの間では、よく嬉しい驚きの出来事を「トレイル・マジック」と呼んだりするが、これなどは正にその瞬間だったと言えるだろう。その後はまた道路標識に励まされながら前進し、13:30にタウマラヌイに着いた時は、思わず普段は見向きもしないバーガーチェーンに（看板の影響で）入ってランチを食べた。買い物を済ませ、町外れにあるホリデー・パークに着いたのは15時半ごろ。TAウォーカーと判ると、$18のキャンプ代を$16におまけしてくれた。明日からトンガリロに向かうので、それに備えて濡れた道具を乾かしたり、洗濯したり。キャンプ地のすぐ横を、この先カヌーで下る予定のワンガヌイ川が流れている。本日の歩行37km。
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