Day 34

There was rain overnight so I was grateful to be inside and the day was steady rain. Lynne arrived at 7 am and I paid her to drop me off at the start of the next track. This saved about 20 km of road walking and meant it was 26 km to Waitomo which is a long but doable day for me. It was a coat on day. The day started with some farm tracks then into some bush walking old logging roads. I walked past an air strip, onto another farm then along a gravel road. I met a kiwi couple who were section hiking. It was then up some hills, across another air strip and into a predator controlled area with deer and electric fencing. I crossed a style into rough farmland and followed a fence line. There was a massive slip at the end of the fence and about 5 m before this the orange arrow pointed down. It was a very steep clay downhill slide. I went off to the side down a ponga bank and yes I slid. I was safe but couldn't find any markers. I thought I saw a bit of a track following a small stream. I decided to follow this but it got very gnarly and I had to do some hands and knees clambering. To be honest I was not in a good space. The stream didn't seam to be coming out at the river that I was meant to cross. There was about a 3 m waterfall and the banks were too steep to climb round it. Mt AP was playing up and so I decided to back track a bit and climb up a fairly steep ridge to where I saw a skyline. This lead me onto a track but no orange markers and according to the AP still a long way off the TA track. The fence line by the track was farmland. I disturbed two Red yearlings and goat. I decided to cross the fence, fortunately no hotwires, and go onto the farmland. I couldn't see a road or a house but I followed farm tracks. I put wifi on my phone and the AP showed me if I walked to a small river in the far corner of the farm that there was a track out to Te Anga road which would take me to Waitomo. Across the strea I found a lovely camp spot. I was pretty buggered both physically and mentally but fortunately unhurt. I pitched my tent and made a hot meal. I was so relieved to be safe and to know where I was. I was also proud that I didn't panic or have melt down and in a sticky situation I made sensible choices.

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