Te Araroa – Day 24

Taumarunui to Bushcamp

18.1 miles

Mile 659.1

It was a late start. I spent nearly all day bouncing from McDonald’s to cafe to library to cafe in search of WiFi fast enough to hooplas the photos to my latest blogs. It’s was horribly irritating, but by 3:00 PM I’d finally succeeded, so hit the road.

It was 18 miles of road walking to get to the next track. Pretty boring stuff, but fortunately I’d just started a great audiobook, so that helped pass the time.

This ostrich was checking me out. He followed me all the way along his gate as I cruised down the road.

There was hardly any traffic, so I had the road to myself which was a nice change.

Just before 9:00 PM I reached the bridge marking the start of the 42nd Traverse, the trail I’d hike tomorrow.

I setup shop in a grass field next to the Whakapapa River, ate a quick dinner and hit the hay.

Cheers!