Day 70 and 71 (1,680 to 1,726 kms)
The slack packing continues. The day started with a bus ride back to Porirua. Today was a longer day, with my objective to walk all the way back to Wellington. Wellington is a hilly place, and the start of the trail did not disappoint. It was 800 steps up to gain the ridge line. From here it wa a very nice stroll along the hills with sweeping views in all directions. The hill walking was briefly interrupted with about 8 kms of road, before heading back into the hills and Colonial Knob. Being a Sunday, there were quite a few people out enjoying one of rare fine weather days in Wellington.
As I pressed closer, the city of Wellington came into view. I followed the Northern Pathway into the city, which took me through the Botanical Gardens. Amazing that it is possible to walk most of the way into Wellington through parks and reserves. I left the greenery and headed to the Capital Building, which would my ending point for the day. It was a short walk from there to where I am staying.
The next I resumed from the last point, and got to wonder through the downtown and along the coast to Mt Victoria. Not the most efficient way to get to Island Bay, the end point. I joined the Southern Pathway through the Mt Victoria reserve, past the zoo and kept going South. Today was only 14 kms, so planned to meet Caroline at the southern tip of the North Island at 12 noon. And there she was, waiting to greet me and the final couple hundred of meters. We found the official end-point and took a few happy snaps.
And without too much celebration and fan fare, I have completed the North Island. Next up, South Island.
A few quick stats
- Longest Day: Day 40 was 38.87 kms all along roads. Day 67, a grueling 10 hours 17 minutes in the Tauraru Ranges. This excludes canoe and bike travel.
- Shortest Day: Day 44 was 9.91 kms to Ōwhango and just uder 2 hours.
- Average walking Day: 24.2 kms and 6 hours 25 minutes.
- Totals: 1,024 kms, 250 hours.
- Gear Failures: 1) Day 62, small leak in my water bag. Hiking pole damaged the previous year needed a little more glue to attach the feet.
- Body Failures: Blister on my right heel when switching to new boots, silly mistake. My right knee suffered a little through the Taurara Ranges.
- Walking Days: 31, and 2 days on a bike and 4 day on a canoe.
- Non Walking Days: 2, waiting for Whanganui River to open.
- Nights in tent: 19 nights.
- Nights not in tent: 20 nights.
- Swims: 10, mostly in rivers.