Day 9

What a day this has been. My hardest so far. I had porridge soaking on the bench but a possum got into it. Fortunately all my other food was in my tent. I started walking before 7. The first 100 m were like a mud slide. I then got to Mangapukahukahu stream and had a pleasant walk down that. It reminded me of the Waimana. The crossing to the Waipapa river was a bit dodgy then the fun began. The track has been washed out in many places and lots of fallen trees. It was basically a slippery slope and I was on my hands and knees at times. At 12 I got to the start of the Pukatea ridge track. I was exhausted and my going had been very very slow. I met up with Alex and Rampage who had shared our camp. Americans like to give themselves trail names. They had walked further down the river but had to come back. The 4 guys who also shared our camp and who are pretty tall had walked some of the river but it would have been over my waist. After a break I started the Pukatea track. A lot of climbing, fortunately there was about 1000 steps but I was knackered and slow going with my short old legs. At 3pm I made it to Pirau road. It was still 9 km to Puketi which is the next camp ground. I had walked for an hour when the only possible vehicle, the goat cullers who had a key offered me a lift. I was so grateful. Doc are doing a lot of pest control in these forests. Will be a hot meal and an early night. On the positive the weather was beautiful, I didn't fall over in the river and I made it. Doc were unrealistic for me on the time. They are also very fussy about cleaning footware for the kauri die back disease.