Day 12

The morning dawned cold and still rainy. We packed up and were off by 740, not too bad. The first few kms to Rangiwahia were increasingly cold and bleak, as the rain continued and the southerly bit.

We pulled into the shelter of the hall, brewed a hot drink and ate lots of chocolate. I put on nearly all my layers, including hat and plastic bags in shoes… After the stop I felt much warmer and stronger.

We then did a fast hour or so to Apiti, where the pub was just opening for lunch (we were lucky it was a Friday!). Maybe a dozen TA riders gathered in the next hour and it was great to catch up with some familiar faces.

The rest of the afternoon continued hilly and cold, though the rain mostly went. It was a headwind, which was a challenge! We ran out of water in Pohangina and asked a guy in a mobility scooter if there was a tap around – he kindly guided us to his house.

Tonight we’re staying at the lovely Anthony and Fiona’s (fellow whio predator control volunteers), in the awesome replica DOC hut they’ve built to host Te Araroa trampers. We did over 130km today in that cold and I feel absolutely wasted!