Day 670: Te Rerenga Wairua

Highlight:

Today I walked the remaining 12km of Aotearoa, to Te Rerenga Wairua.I took a detour out to Cape Maria van Diemen. Walking directly west, I had a new perspective. Islands in the distance.

Arriving at my desination, I took a moment to read each of the signs.

I touch the signpost in slow motion. Done. I snapped a selfie, before stepping away from the signpost, not sure what to do next.

Feeling a bit out of place, I sat down on the grass and let Trent know. Before long I saw another with a TA like pack. Nigel and I swapped cameras  for photos and he turned south to TeIka-a-Māui. We soon walked upon two other with similar (but 17kg) packs, and their sent off crew.

Antoinette, offered me a ride with Levi and dog Poppy. With the prospect of staying in Kerikeri and catching the bus the following day (the Kaitaia bus doesn't run until Sunday), I hitched from Awanui. I didn't wait long, as I was mainly talking on the phone to Trent, giving him the full account.A courier driver stopped, and dropped me of in Kerikeri. We spied another walker walking into town, they had a z-pack bag. I didn't think to much of it.

With Kaitaia bypassed I knew I had missed the busyness of those starting their journey. I really enjoyed the time I have spent in Kerikeri before, and figured there may be a couple walkers at the backpackers.

Well turns out the backpackers have been repurposed for seasonal worker, so I walked on the holiday park

This took me right pass what had to be Antoinettes gallery. Thinking I would of missed it, due to the 7am bus in the morning, I called in and saw some of her mahi. Very cool!

A familiar face, with a pack walked in to the holiday park reception. Humm I couldn't place him, confused about time and space. It was Jeff, who I meet in the café at Ahipara. Dave (with the z-pack bag), arrived next. My mind full with faces, names and stories of the last 5 days.Dinner was a celebratory kebab with Dave and Mike.

Summary: