By Elliot

Distance: 14km

Given the short day, we were in no rush to leave the holiday park this morning, which made it surprising that we left around the same time as usual: 8:30am.

Before we started this trip, we were very excited to see sheep. We have seen sheep, including today. But we’ve probably seen more cows than sheep. We’ve learned that the South Island is where the sheep concentration is really high. One more thing to look forward to on the South Island!

After a little bit of flat walking, we started climbing up a hill, and getting farther from the ocean.

While it hasn’t rained much in the last couple of weeks, there were still some sections of trail that were quite muddy. Our pace was slowed by trying to not get our feet soaked in mud. I was unsuccessful and with a small slip got one of my feet completely covered.

At lunchtime, as we sat around on a helicopter pad, a group of 18 older women popped out of the forest along the trail. This was the second hiking club we’ve encountered in the last week. It’s a nice run-in: as a Te Araroa hiker you feel like a celebrity. All the ladies want to know where you’re from, how far you’re going, how you are finding the trail. I feel like an ambassador for the trail when I chat to these ladies and others who ask about what all this walking is about. I want them to have a good impression of through-hikers, so that the people who live in the places we are going through continue to host us with pleasure.

Later in the day, as our spirits sagged due to a very steep, very muddy section, we rounded a corner and came upon some trail magic.

The refreshments were just enough to get us into camp at kilometre 485 on the trail.