Lottin Point to Waihau Bay

 


The driver was just tying down his load, I could hear tennis-player grunts as he heaved chains up and over to my side. The logs are driven through to Port of Gisborne and as an owner-operator, he'd keep shuttling until he runs out of hours.

Shortly afterwards the rain arrived and I pounded along in a gauzy wet blur. No photo stops, didn't want to drown my phone. Not much traffic and a cheery wave from each one, so it was better than I'm making it sound. And on sounds, something goes pweep weep weep weep and stops whenever I get close. Is it a frog? Is it a katydid?


Then, two miracles as I came down to Oruaiti Beach. First, there was a letup in the rain. Second, there was a log waiting for me. I sat and ate cheese and salami crackers and watched red-billed gulls fossick in seaweed.

A few more kilometres and I reached Waihau Bay, making it a 26.4 km trek today  Here's the pub slash hotel.


I've got a bunk, some broadband, yesterday's Herald and a beer. Divine hot shower. Met service has put out a Code Orange, they predict 78mm rain in the 18 hours from 8pm tonight, so I've booked two nights.

After that, I have to walk 37km to reach Te Kaha or else stealth camp - the fear of Aucklanders bringing disease has closed all campgrounds I planned to use en route to Opotiki.

However, I love how the Herald turned that on its head!



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