Day 8

I had a pleasant evening at Mangamuka. The radio cat kept me company as I cooked tea then I played Patience using the Menzies staff cards and re reading them. The next day was fine and I am keeping shearers hours. Walking before 7:am, walk 2hours,smoko then walk another 2 hours. I was a good walk across Mangamuka bridge then up Omahuta road. I saw a donkey and a person feeding calves. The walk was gentle up hill. The scotch thistles are flowering here and the blackberries set. Walked past lots of bee hives as manuka honey is a big industry here. I even saw Doc spraying gorse on the side of the road and stopped for a break by a kauri tree. Stopped the night at Blackridge which is a new Doc campsite. A big group of TA trampers turned up after me. They were young fit and had conquered the forest

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