TA Day 95

TA Day 95: Sunday 23 March 2025

Piropiro Campsite - Ngaherenga Campsite

When we woke up, the campsite was shrouded in fog. We started hiking again in the twilight and tried to use a similar concept as the day before with our breaks, but fairly quickly realised that the trail today didn't follow an old tramlines anymore, so the trail wasn't as flat which required sliiiightly more effort.

When we had our breakfast break we met the three friendly cyclists from the day before. Soon after, we passed them again as they were having their break. The couple, who was now joined by their cyclist friend, is called "Ultra Nice Cycling". https://www.ultranicecycling.com/

They team up with NGOs, collecting donations along the way, and their plan is to spend a year cycling, making their way back towards Germany.

They passed us one more time, just in time for us to find a shortcut on the trail, up a steep hill which the cyclists didn't take, and that way we ended up in front of them - again!

We laughed at it, but then we didn't see them again after they passed us this time :)

We went on and on. And for some time we were short of water, but luckily there was a stream just a few km later. Very well needed! We stopped to eat, and then kept going the last bit to the campsite.

Here at the campsite we met a nice plumber whom we talked to. We also called Kim's parents to see how all was going for them down on the South Island. But all seemed well. Then, from nowhere, two hikers that we recognised showed up. Caleb and Rose!

We spent the rest of the evening talking, catching up on what has happened since we last saw each other in Methven - over 1000 km ago! Also two shoes ago (we've had another pair of shoes in between since we met them), new shorts, new shirt and all the "toughest" parts of the trail has passed in between. Yet it felt like it wasn't long ago at all that we met. Trail and time works in mysterious ways sometimes :)

Today's:

Distance: 35.57 km

Ascent: 865 m

Descent: 736 m

Tent nights: 49/95

Weather: Overcast morning with some drizzle, then sunny afternoon