Day 7.

Well I had a pretty bad sleep last night. Ground very uneven and I kept rolling into a corner of my tent. Misty drizzle so just a couple of biscuits for breakfast and walking before 7am. Up a gentle climb for a km and then the track branched. I took the unmaintained road that linked with Takahue south road. The other over the Ratea forest is steep and muddy and takes a fit person over 14:hours soban American couple I met told me. I had a lovely walk past a Krishna settlement and over the saddle. Lots of old farms on the road and I had to take a photo of the totara growing in the fences. Tobias and Johannes will appreciate that. Had a good walk to Broadwood. Saw this lovely church. A toilet stop in Broadwood then a pie and coffee at the shop. I had a good rest, spoke to a couple of locals and took a photo of the statue. I started road walking and saw lots of turkeys. I had a 20 km road walk on a busy sealed road. After about 5 km a lovely man Mathew offered me a lift to Mangamuka so I took it. I bought a huge ice cream for $3at the shop and paid for my camp on the grass behind the old pub which is now a local radio station. I had a coffee and long chat with Raewyn who runs the station while my tent dried out. Tent up and time to chill out. I have found there are 3 sorts of walkers,the serious, the social and the slow seniors. I have seen plenty of the first two but I am the only one in the third group I have met. I think the next 3 days may be quite strenuous but it is lovely sitting in a comfortable seat listening to the radio station 

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