Usually we only look 6 days ahead on the map because that's all the food we like to carry. This time it bit us in the butt. With the weather being so good in the Tararua Mtns. we had extra and decided to see if we could make it to the next town instead. We discovered that the forest between us and the next town was closed during the week and only open on the weekend due to logging. Luckily that evening we met 3 locals at the last hut. They helped us look at the maps in hopes of finding an alternate route. We were surprised that the Te Araroa Trust had not given a re-route for the hikers like the other times. The closed section starts and stops in the middle of nowhere. The locals felt sorry for us and gave us a ride into the local town where we could hike around the closed section. It is there that we became disenchanted by the North Island's Trail.
Over the next few days we made our way to Whanganui. This is the end of the canoe section for most South Bounders, but for us it just means more logistical issues to work out. A much needed day was taken there. We made phone calls to local canoe companies trying to find the best way to be shuttled North so we would not miss the wonderful 5-day canoe trip. I won't bore you with the details. Long story short, we bought a bus ticket North to meet our canoe outfitter.
April 10th -
7am Shadow and I stood at the prearranged location to met our canoe. The night before we divided our things into 3 of the 6 barrels we were given. The other 3 were filled with as much heavy and fattening food we could find. Our plan is the live high on the hog for the next 5 days. Our shuttle driver took us another hour North to Taumarunui and dropped us off. The season has been dry and the river level was low, which was just fine with me. We meandered down the river without problems. Shadow fished with his fancy elaborate rod and reel (See photo below). Our first camp spot was about 20 miles down. Sheep were grazing there when we arrived and didn't seem to mind us putting our tent up for the night. Dinner menu tonight... Bean, onion, and cheese burritos!
Kiwis and their Bourbon.
ET Phone Home
For real fishermen only
Dividing the grub.
Sheep on our campsite
Country Mouse and Shadow
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