Iain's Great Adventure - Te Araroa

Garmin Connect The weather turned and what a beautiful blue sky day for my final day to Bluff. 35km. I bought a celebratory whisky to enjoy at the end, its a small bottle of Cardrona New Zealand Whisky. Felt appropriate after a few celebrations on the journey. - sharing whisky and coffee at end of day on queen Charlotte with Melu & Nike - top of Waiau Pass, whisky slushy with the St Arnaud team, Anne, Dave, Kerry, Dale, Kirsten, Nicki, Peter and Holly - stag saddle, celebrating highest point with Jane and Alex The walk to Bluff starts with a nice trail by the estuary. Followed by a long stretch of noisy road. I did pass an old church on the way, which must be the farthest south. I do have a love of old wooden churches.which can be found dotted around New Zealand..I should write a book about them one day. The last 6km of the Te Araroa trail finishes with a trail round the Bluff, offering beautiful vistas west and across to Stewart Island.

Garmin Connect Otatara holiday park to Invercargill was a short an uneventful day, just 7km on the side of the road. Really just a rest day, or delaying the end. Lucky it was not the day i planned the big push to the end, it was a little wet when i left, and remained for most of the day, so was nice chilling in Invercargill and even managed to go to the movies to keep out of the rain. Some great old building in Invercargill, churches and masonic lodges, very Scottish. And of course visited the awesome motorbike museum. Perhaps I won't get an electric motorbike after all. A moto guzzi or Indian might be next.

Garmin Connect I was beginning to think I was running out of great days walking the Te Araroa trail, everyone seems to be dreading the 25km beach walk from Riverton to Otatara. I was certainly keeping an open mind and once again was blessed with a beautiful blue sky day with not a breath of wind. Leaving the Riverton/Aparima harbour at the mouth of the Aparima river it was pond like. The sun slowly rising above the beach. I could barely see the destination at the far end of the beach, but it didnt matter to me. I knew the distance, know my pace and therefore knew how long it was going to take me. I felt possibly more content with the prospect than on any other day. I knew what lay ahead and all I had to do was walk and enjoy. I had downloaded Billy Connolly's autobiography 'windswept and interesting' audio book for this trip. Chapter 1. 'do what makes you happy' was a great way to start the day. Billy, clearly struggled with happiness, des

Garmin Connect I get to really enjoy the coast this morning with a short 12km walk from colac bay to riverton. Starts with a short road section until it disappears due to sea erosion, then down onto the beach. Fortunately the timing it good and the tide is out so most of the pebble beach is walkable. Then finished with an up over a small hill into Riverton. From the hill top I could see tomorrow's walk, 26km of beach, as far as the eye could see.

Garmin Connect The day started with gravel road to forest, then forest road. Forest of mostly eucalyptus trees, very tall and straight, past felling activity stripping trunks. Onward through forest up to Bald Hill, without trees funnily enough, and a big mast. I was very windy being blown off the track at times. I stopped for a bit behind building sheltered from the wind for a wee snack. View of Bluff Hill, The END is in sight. Continued down from the mast on forest road, coming across this serious gate. Felt like i was coming out of a maximum security secret location. I found the spikes protruding from the front of the gate a little excessive, more like something from mad max 2. Back off road and into muddy forest, hard to keep out of it. Arrived at Martin's Hut, which is an older 4 bed hut, already occupied by 3 NOBOs. I had been feeling really good over the past hour or so, and was already considering continuing on and doing a do

Garmin Connect Woke to a beautiful sun rise through the mist of the morning. The shearing quarters at the Birchwood Station provided a great stay for the night. The day started with a calf busting 400m vertical climb followed by a nice gentle forest road section through pine forest before entering native forest. finishing with some road before the merivale hut. Nice sentiment from locals, although not sure if the upsidedown flag is significant. The hutwas set on a wee plot of land next to a field of horses. 5 bunk hut with narrow bunks and large mattresses, risk of rolling off in the night. Mouse appeared interested in content of packs. Trap with peanut butter very effective.  Morning horses grazing.