Awaroa – Whariwharangi (17.8 km)

Friday, March 1: Cloudy at first, clouding over then clearing in the course of the afternoon

GPS Tour
Youtube Video

Alarms went off on the dot of 6:00 and as I had gotten some sleep due to the relative paucity of snorers I was up fairly soon after the first ones.

Awaroa Crossing in the early morning

The estuary was fairly clear of water and a number of people were already on their way across by the time I was ready to go, including some people going down the estuary to look for an easier passage (rather than up which would have been more promising). The crossing was achieved with trouser bottoms zipped off and in crocs, and the first (main) stream was very cold but not particularly deep. I signalled to the Australian women, Robin & Shirley, that the water was just over ankle deep, then continued on through the three remaining streams and up the other side. There were a number of people having breakfast at the track beginning, which is where I put my trouser bottoms and boots back on. From here on the track was fairly easy to Waiharakeke Bay where I caught up with Trish. Then there was a section that had been washed away and replaced by a track that now goes over the hill (quite steep) but with a nice lookout (Skinner’s Lookout) over Totaranui Beach where I took a bracketed panorama.

Quite possibly I lost the tripod adapter here – although it could have been in Totaranui itself, or on Gibbs Hill later.

Restored Homestead at Whariwharangi

Just after 10:30 we were all in Totaranui and having been up for so long had lunch while Trish caught her bus to Takaka. Then it was via Gibbs Hill (steep climb, done in what appears to be record time) where the adapter might have loosened itself, and back down the other side to Whariwharangi just after 2:30. Lovely restored homestead – not the usual DoC fare, and sat around admiring the view for a bit. Discovered one room with only two bunks, so acquired that one – if necessary I can choose a non-snorer to share with if it becomes crowded. Then took out the camera & tripod to try some brackets and noticed my loss. Attempted the brackets anyhow and will now have to consider finding a replacement, either for the adapter – which is notoriously difficult, or would be in Germany, but finding buckle replacements here relatively easily gives me hope – or the whole tripod.

Took a snooze for a bit and then the hut started becoming populated (and it was already populated by some of the stupidest blowflies in the country), so I started on the washing.

Had the last of the noodles & mixed veg for dinner and conversed half the night with Will & Kelly from Minnesota, and Florian from Heidelberg.