Te Araroa 09/02/26

Day 141, Aparima Hut to Telford campsite (2875)

Another good day but the sandflies were out early as well to enjoy the weather.

Morning view

Another swing (suspension) bridge 

The first bit was a short walk down to the river and across by another suspension (swing) bridge for a walk round a big boggy section to reach the forest.

A nice one

On through the boggy path

I was prepared for the worst after yesterday's horrors but it wasn't bad at all.

Much nicer in the forest 

The beech forest was beautiful with sunlight dappling the trees and birds singing, a pity it was so steep in places.

Mistletoe, New Zealand style

I was standing looking and listening when another walker came past. I said "Hello". She stopped, removed an earpiece and looked at me. "Isn't it beautiful here with the trees and all the birdsong" I said. The reply was "Yeah", earpiece in, head down and charge on!

Mistletoe on the tree, Fantail on the pole

There were a few deep muddy bits but there was a river crossing before the next hut so my shoes were reasonable clean when I went in for lunch.

More beautiful forest 

There were some others there having lunch as well including Stefan who had managed to slip while crossing the river and found about the only place to fall right in as there wast actually that much water.

Moving off after a snack break 

The sign outside the hut said it was eight hours to the campsite, I hoped it was wrong as I left at half past one thinking it should take about four hours.

Waiting on top of the hill

It was a steep climb through the forest all the way to the top. On the way there was quite a lot of mistletoe high in the canopy, I only knew it was there because of the fallen flowers.

Mountain view 

I found one piece lower down still in full flower, probably because it was lower. In the same place there was a Fantail flitting about and when I held out my walking pole it sat on it allowing me to take a picture.

On the way down 

I got to the open hilltop, the last hill over 1000 meters, to a hazy view South to the infamous Longwood Forest hills, the home of waist deep mud that I will be crossing in a few days and an even hazier glimpse of the sea.

It was a lovely descent 

There were a group of us who stayed on the top for a while in the sunshine admiring the view and hoping that the sandflies would be in bed by the time we got to the campsite.

The campsite 

It would have taken about four hours for the afternoon's walk without the stop but I still descended into a sandfly hell.

Twelve tents here tonight, everyone inside early killing the bugs that got in with them!