TA Day 116

TA Day 116: Sunday 13 April 2025

Kōmanawa Farmstay - The Farm, Russell Road

Tonight had been unusually cold, so we had slept extra well even inside, since it was a bit colder inside too and we hadn't been too warm as is usually the case.

But when we got up, the sun was there again, and we continued on the gravel road that we had ended with the day before.

After some farm tracks, we entered the Helena Ridge Track. Unfortunately it started to rain just before that, and although the trail was well-maintained we couldn't enjoy it too much because of all the wet vegetation that absolutely soaked us.

When we found a bench we sat down and had a rest, but we didn't think we would sit there for long, so we did the mistake of not taking of our shoes and socks and airing our feet.

We also had a look at the forecast. It didn't look good at all the upcoming days. Rain every day, and not just a little either. We didn't see how we would be able to cross Puketi, Omahuta and Raetea Forest.

This was not what we needed right now, when we were already feeling very demotivated. But on the other hand, we've had a good season. Too good season. So I suppose it's only fair.

We walked down the ridge through the wet bush and tried not to slip. Kim's trekking pole tip broke a few days ago, and now she walks with one rubber tip on all the time to spare the pole from getting too damaged. Unfortunately that means less support, and more sliding with it... But we made it down. Even more soaked then before.

On the road we finally had some break from the rain.

This road was very strange, and different. Here and there we passed houses and gardens that were more like mansions, with huge fancy houses, high robust fences and perfectly cut grass.

Then, not much later, there was a few km of open pastures, with broken fence and open gates, plywood sheds that looked like someone once had lived in them, rubbish all around, too many cars, abandoned caravans with towels on a clothesline and cows grazing beneath. We also encountered dogs running around loose (not a too uncommon sight in NZ though). It really felt like we had ended up in a no man's land, where you do whatever you want.

By the time we got closer to The Farm, it had started getting dark and was raining again. Seeing the sign "The Farm 400 m", we felt relieved.

After sitting outside on some benches under a roof for sometime, we finally got hold of someone. We asked if there was anyway to upgrade and sleep inside instead of in our tent, and luckily we could.

Now it was pouring down outside so we were super thankful to have a roof above our heads and to not have to sleep in our tent.

Today's:

Distance: 32.30 km

Ascent: 726 m

Descent: 846 m

Tent nights: 55/116

Weather: Overcast, rain on and off, heavy towards evening