Day 664: Horahora River Trail

Highlight:

James and Wendy being very accommodating hosts. With the wind persisting James oftered to drive me to the main road, or catch a ride to town with Wendy in the morning. James look me on the tour of there camper facilities. Most impressed and with a sure way to Whangarei, I set up in tahi, showered, and started snacking. Tent is airing out / with the potential it will dry once the rain stops this afternoon.

Challenge:

A wet and windy night mean I woke many times, un-confident in how well I had peged the pegs. The pegs must of loosen because what was a perfect pitch turned into a lot of tent flapping over the course of the night. Not willing to brave the darkness and weather unless the tent fell down, I re awoke finally just before my 6am alarm.

The prompt start was because of the tides and (my last) estuary crossing. Low tide was about 7am, with a two hour window for a comfortable crossing. So for the first time on this section of my TA, I donned my headtouch to pack down my wet tent and walk the 7km to the Horahora estuary. I took my rain gear off. There was a sand island in the middle, I crossed the first part. The second part looked deeper. Now I carabinered my sandels to my walking pole, hitched up my bag and pulled my arm straps super tight. If it felted like the water was going to reach my bag, I'll come back to the sand to readjust for a bag over head approch.

Feeling like Rafiki from the lion king (with my modified stick, bear feet and towel skirt), the water only came to mid thigh.

Learning:

The Australasian bittern, matuku hūrepo,  is a large bird in the heron family. It camouflages wellv in the reedn of swamp and has booming call. They have large territory (500km) and leaves foot prints 20cm in length.

Summary: