Day 42: An Ostrich?
November 21, 2019
Kilometers: 1031.6-1061.0
Kelly’s Motel in Taumarunui to Whakapapa River Campsite
We were very slow to the trail today. We woke up just after 7 and started to get ready to leave town. We put all of our extra gear in the bounce box and headed to McDonald’s for about the 4th time in the last three days. The town is so small that McDonald’s is the only restaurant open at that hour. We met Matthew and Peter there before heading back to the room to check out. Charlie made his way straight into town to get a hitch for the day. His leg/ankle has gotten better and he figures tomorrow he will be good to go again but is taking today off.
On our way out of the room I ditched the socks I had hiked in for the first 40 days of the trip. They really should have been burned but because there was no incinerator in the vicinity throwing them away would have to do.
When we got to the post office I noticed a problem. The “Post Restante” service we’ve been using to ship our bounce box ahead of us had been discontinued for the next big town we wanted to send the box to. Apparently they are cutting a bunch of post restante locations across the country. This is gonna make it harder for future TA walkers to access their extra gear. However, a quick call to the holiday park in Whanganui and we were in business. They told us it was okay to ship it to them and they’d hold onto it until we get there in 10 days. Two more quick stops at the pharmacy and to grab a Red Bull and we were off at about 11:30.
At the beginning of the trip a nearly 29km day would have been a hard day. But by this point we are so fast and used to walking that 29km on a gravel road is an easy day and we have no problem even if we start that late. I’m excited to see how much stronger we become in another month.
As we left town we walked over the Whanganui River, which we will be meeting back up with in five days to begin our canoe trip section.
The road started as a paved road and soon turned into a gravel one. Matthew, Ethan and I walked together at the start with Peter a bit out in front of us.
After a few kms we came across an Ostrich. In the middle of nowhere New Zealand there was a solo ostrich. It was quite unexpected. It walked the 200 meter or so length of the fence alongside us, seeming just as interested in us as we were in it.
Soon after the ostrich we turned a corner and saw huge mountains on the horizon. The first one is mount Ruapehu, which is the biggest (and only) ski resort on the north island. The second one is Mt Ngauruhoe, also known as Mount Doom in the Lord of the Rings series. We will be walking right up next to Mount Doom in two days when we do the Tongariro crossing.
The road soon started an over 400 meter climb into the hills. I felt great and took off ahead of the rest of the group. The walk was nice as I was able to catch up on the recent “Pardon My Take” episodes that I had downloaded back in town. Around 3pm I pulled into Owhango. Waiting for the others I took advantage of the sun and got some tanning in.
About an hour later the others joined me and we had a quick late lunch. From there it was an easy 2km walk to the campsite. The campsite is on the Whakapapa River, which we all agreed has been the nicest river we’ve camped at yet.
We all headed down to the river for baths. Peter, Charlie and I were quick into the cold water. Ethan was a bit slower, eventually submerging himself only because Charlie splashed him til he was soaked.
For dinner Ethan and I made chicken with Mexican seasoning, rice, peppers and onions all in one pot. Our backcountry cooking skills and meal ideas are definitely improving a tad bit. Tomorrow should provide some even better views of Mount Doom and the Tongariro crossing as we get closer to the giant mountains.
-Alex