TA Day 104

TA Day 104: Tuesday 1 April 2025

Bombay - Auckland, Mangere, Tidal Road (Auckland Airport Easy Hotel)

Lukas had coffee with the trail angel in the morning while Kim got ready. We left at 8, and started to hike up and down some roads, through some areas that were newly built, or rather, they were building at the moment.

In Drury we stopped for "breakfast" at a café. We had milkshake, coffee, chicken sandwich and a brownie. Met some cyclists at the café and talked a little about our long walk before we continued.

We pushed on to Manurewa, and not much of interest happened along this part. We were getting closer and closer to Auckland, and that could really be felt. Everything got louder and busier, we had to stop so many times for traffic light, and zig-zag our way across so many roads.

When we got to Manurewa we took the train, and then bus to Denis, the trail angel we are storing our bags and things we don't bring with us while hiking. Kim needed to pick-up some papers from her doctor, about her endometriosis, as she needed to find a way to renew her Swedish prescription for contraceptives.

After picking up the papers, Denis was so kind, and drove us all the way back to Manurewa, which saved us a lot of time. We went to New World here, and got some food.

A lot of Kim's time and energy both the previous days, but especially today, went to figure out how to find a doctor. In the end, she found an online doctor that seemed to be reliable - CareHQ, and booked an appointment for 20:30 this evening.

So now we needed to reach the hotel in time. The last 11 km we turbo hiked through slum-like areas with worn down houses and trash lying everywhere in the streets. We also passed through some industrial areas with car mechanics and other similar buildings, but also industrial buildings that apparently were churches!? In just a few hundred metres we passed four of these strange churches, before finally reaching our hotel.

We'd actually been here once before, the night we hitchhiked up to Auckland to meet Kim's parents. That forest night we also stayed here. Funny that we now were here again, but had walked here.

When we arrived we had a quick evening meal - chicken wraps again, and made us ready. We arrived just about an hour before Kim's doctors appointment, so she just had time to make herself ready.

The appointment went well, and she could breathe out a little. Now the next thing was to pick up the contraceptives, so she couldn't completely relax. Not yet. But hopefully soon.

Today's:

Distance: 35.15 km

Ascent: 320 m

Descent: 516 m

Tent nights: 52/104

Weather: Mostly sunny