Day 17

I had a very early start walking at 5:10 and using my headlight. Low tide was about 6am and I had a 3 km crossing of Taihururu estuary. It went well. Lots of markers to follow. Walked in bare feet. A group who had stopped at Tide Song caught me up escorted by Ros their host. Had a chat to her. She had walked the trail several years ago. Others from those who camped at Patua also caught me. I am pretty slow. It was then road walking both gravel and tarseal until we walked up a steep track and on to Kauri mountain track. Spectacular views and I took lots of photos. Walked through farmland and on to Ocean beach. I had a short break and an early lunch as I didn't eat breakfast. The tide was almost high and it was shoes off again to cross a river that ran into the sea. The sand was soft and hard walking. I saw lots of beautiful shells, a dead shark and no rubbish at all. I had a break at he end of the beach then it was a very steep scramble up and over to Ocean beach road. A lot of the walkers were stopping and then walking the Te Whara walk over Bream tail. Very very steep and takes over 7 hours. I walked Ocean beach road and a lovely lady gave me a ride for about 5 km and dropped me at Taurikura. A school group were having a class trip. I continued road walking to a cafe and fish n chip shop I had been told about. I had fish n chips and a Monteith summer ale. Met up with Jodi and Elena who had hitched. Later on Rampage and Bree turned up exhausted. They had gone further yesterday and today had completed the Bream tail walk. We all decided to camp at Reotahi bay at an overnight camp spot that overlooks Marsden point. It has been a really long day. The weather has been so kind, fine but not too hot. My feet are pretty good except for my little toe. The views - well the pictures tell the story. I have seen quite a few Rosella Chris.

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