Yesterday was literally one of the most painful days on my feet I’ve ever experienced. I thought I’d walked at least 30km, but my app sadly told me I only went 25 while it felt like 40! Leaving camp I travelled a few kms along a 4WD track until I descended into the Mangapukahukahu Gorge and found myself walking for 3km down the river. It was absolutely delightful after I was sure I was on the right path!
Best lunch spot on the trail at km 183.
Following the river section there was a very sketchy track along the Waipapa River, which was heavily eroded and downright dangerous at times. The comments on my Guthooks app said taking the river would perhaps be safer, but also that it could be waist deep so I stuck to the trail instead.
It was then up, up and up out of the gorge on one of the steepest tracks imaginable, then once at the top I had the chance to dry out my feet before another 9kms of rock-hard 4WD track.
I was in agony when I went to bed, and when I woke up this morning I had another 24km left to make it to town. If you watched the video from my last post about the farmland you know how my day kicked off, and sadly after a good giggle at myself my right ankle started giving me grief and I started limping through the next paddock. I ended up wrapping my wrist brace around it for a bit of additional support, but I’m zeroing in Kerikeri to give my whole body and mind time to recover.
My wet feet after the horrific farmland.
I cried a lot today, like a child really. I’d convinced myself I would be able make it to town if I swam in the Kerikeri River, and then when I expected to be able to access the river it was too steep to get down. At that point I lost it and burst into hysterics, stamping my feet and yelling, “but I wanted to swim!” I also cursed the incredibly overgrown section along the river that gave me all kinds of allergies, but then right at the end before town, the trail showed it’s charm and seduced me into appreciating it again!
It actually got worse after I took this pic.
Rainbow Falls
It’s amazing what a boost arriving in town and meeting some nice friendly locals can do! Thanks to Peter for the ride into town, the lovely woman at the holiday park reception whose name starts with a ‘B’ for the encouraging chat, and to Andy and his kids Frank and Lucile for keeping me company on the neighbouring tent space! 🙂
My hiking pole broke already!
Kerikeri Holiday Park
Serial Nomad 
From hysterics to seduction.
From steep climbs to Rainbow Falls.
From Me to You…
Happy Trails
I’m glad your staying positive and can look at the situation with some humor while you’re getting your trail legs. I’m curious if you have identified the source of the rash (toxic plants in NZ)?? Do you also prefer the solar charger over a battery pack..I left my solar charger behind this year and opted for the battery pack for hikes of 5 days or less between towns.
Good question! I have a small power pod that will give me one charge and the solar panel, but for this hike a battery pack would probably be better as the weather is so inconsistent.
love reading your adventures!
Love seeing this live. I only caught up with your PCT trek afterwards so this is exciting…each day I must find out what will befall Muk Muk today! haha 🙂 Your doing fantastic, and you bring it across so I feel it in all it’s pain, sweat and muddiness. Enjoy every moment!….Gromit
Thanks Gromit love your encouragement!! Two other hikers arrived in Kerikeri this afternoon so I was able to vent a lot! Felt good! So happy you’re following along! Thank you!
You poor thing. I don’t know how you do it. But I’m cheering you on.
Thank you! I really appreciate it!
Glad you made it to another town! Sorry the trail is being so terrible to you!
It’s just toughening me up! 🙂
Yukky, to mukky to lucky….whee!…..to neein Paradise inded rest…green grass to good folks….sure hope for less steepness or mud for you….awwww adventure gone awry …. but what you love, right? just a bump in the grand dreams to be and what gives you joy of meaning for your love!❤❤❤big mucho love, sweetness !!!!!…from your old friend, Paradise, Barbie
We gotta experience some tough times to appreciate the beauty in between! Right on Barbie! X
What the heck went haywire with my comment I just made to to you? Hope I just made an error. Forgot to push number or goofed, I will see if I can correct it??? Barbie
All good! They won’t show up until I have data and post them! 🙂
Posted by Ashley Brown in Women of the PCT:
I think Nietzsche was a thru-hiker:
“What if pleasure and displeasure were so tied together that whoever wanted to have as much as possible of one must also have as much as possible of the other — that whoever wanted to learn to “jubilate up to the heavens” would also have to be prepared for “depression unto death”?
[…]
You have the choice: either as little displeasure as possible, painlessness in brief … or as much displeasure as possible as the price for the growth of an abundance of subtle pleasures and joys that have rarely been relished yet? If you decide for the former and desire to diminish and lower the level of human pain, you also have to diminish and lower the level of their capacity for joy.”
~
You are due “an abundance of subtle pleasures and joys!” May they appear soon and often!
WOW!!! So perfectly said Nietzsche!!! You know the pleasure is trickling in for sure! I feel overjoyed just reading this! Thank you so much for the boost!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
WOW, what a wonderful comment Joy just gave you…a quote to contemplate….if only dare to do or think about makes me tremble!!! Amazing!!!