Rain started falling midnight and stopped at 5:00 when I got up. Good weather all day. Started 6:30 and walked to the east from the campsite
following a muddy walking trail that led into a planted pine forest. TA route
trial goes along the beach and it got in to the same forest 7km ahead. On the
map, there were forest roads in all directions and seemed to be a junction
somewhere on a way. Decided to carry on, and got back onto the TA route at
9:00.
After getting out from the forest, walked on an ex-forest road that must
have not been maintained after the pine tree felling had been finished. A sea
of pink ragwort blooming all over - very beautiful and pleasant to view, though
they are weed. Trail was easy to walk and had lunch pleasantly sitting down on a
stump. A farmer living nearby passed by a car and said that this road was
currently closed for public access. Was surprised because there was a TA sign at the
entrance and no track closure post. The gate was tied by chain with a padlock
on, but hinge of the gate was off and easy to go through - didn't seem the
trail was closed. According to the farmer, a US owner put the land on market
and hence closed the road about 4-5 months ago. Was allowed to carry on as
having come more than a half way. If this road was inaccessible, I had to make a
big detour on a sealed road. It's a shame about such a nice road.
After this
ex-forest road, walked on a sealed road to State Highway 1 via Bulls, puns and jokes
capital of NZ. Walked 1.5km after the junction, crossed the Rangitikei river,
and walked to a side road to Mt Lees Reserve. There was a facility that
Manawatu District Council manages: free camping (donation basis) with communal
kitchen, flush toilets and lights. Looked comfy. But the sky was grey and it
was about to rain when I got there at 16:30. Asked a B&B owners couple
about a place to stay inside nearby. They gave me a great offer - $40 to stay
in one of their rooms including spa, no breaky. The tasteful house built in
1930 made me feel at ease and luxurious. Almost staying at a holiday home that has
been renovated from an old guest house. The host Graham was a trustee of TA
Trust in Manawatu area and very friendly and kind person. Walked 36km today.
森を出た後は、松の植林が伐採された後放置されたらしい、旧林道っぽい道を進む。ここにも一面モモイロサワギクが咲き乱れ、雑草だと知っていても大変きれいで見ていて楽しい。道も歩きやすく、良い気分で切り株に腰掛け昼食を食べていたら、近くの牧場の人が来るまで通りかかり「この道の一般市民の通行は現在閉鎖されている」と教えられてビックリ。入り口にはまだTAの標識がついていたが、そういえばゲートは鎖でつながれ南京錠がかけられていた。しかし、ゲートの蝶つがい部分が外れていて簡単に入れ、何の閉鎖案内もなかったので全く疑問にも思わなかった。その農夫によると、アメリカ人所有者が土地を売りに出しており、4〜5ヶ月前に道を閉鎖することにしたのだとか。自分はすでに半分以上を歩いてきており、結局そのまま通らせてもらったが、ここを通れないと舗装道路を遠回りせねばならなくなる。せっかくの良い道なのに残念だ。
その旧林道の後は、1日ずっと舗装道路を辿り、NZのダジャレの町として有名なブルズを経由して国道1号線へ合流。1.5km歩きランギティケイ川を渡った後、再び脇道へそれて郊外のマウント・リーズ保全地区へ。ここはマナワツ郡役所が管理する公的私鉄で、キャンプするだけなら無料（寄付金制）、キッチンや水洗トイレ、電灯もあり快適そうな場所だ。しかし16:30に着いた時には空が真っ暗で雨になりそうだったので、どこか室内で泊まれるところはないかとB&Bのオーナー夫妻に尋ねてみたところ、$40で朝食抜きでそこに泊まらせてくれ、ジャグジーまで使わせてくれた。1930年に建てられた趣のある建物はとても落ち着き贅沢な気分に浸る。まるで古民家を改装して別荘に滞在しているみたいだ。ご主人のグレイムさんはこのマヌワツ地区のTAの理事だとか。とても気さくで人当たりの良い、親切な人だった。本日の歩行36km。
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