Days 25 and 26
- john51648
- Oct 23, 2020
- 4 min read
Day 25 (October 21st) - Orewa to Browns Bay (26km)
I started today with a plan to stop in Stillwater and cross the Okura River tomorrow morning early on the low tide but as the day wore on changed the plan and decided to get to Browns Bay today.
Day started in a pretty relaxed way with a quiet stroll out of Orewa and up to the new Silverdale shopping area that appears to actually be at Millwater. The walk back along the Orewa River was lovely and nice to get away from the traffic.
Stopped for brunch at a cafe in the shopping area then proceeded to get hopelessly lost trying to find my way back onto the trail. There’s so much development happening here that the maps seem to be out of date, or at least that’s my excuse!
There was there a long and somewhat boring road walk out to Stillwater, with me getting there about 1.30pm. Somehow I’d got Stillwater and Riverhead confused in my mind and expected a little old worldly township with cafes and a pub etc. Alas Stillwater doesn’t even have a milk bar!
So decided it would be a very long afternoon and night if I was to stay here. The big issue was finding somewhere to stay on the far side of the river crossing. I tried a couple of Air BnBs but nobody got back to me then stumbled upon a BnB in Browns Bay so a new plan was sorted!
All I needed to do now was wait for the low tide at about 5.40pm. Now, waiting is not one of my strong points so the three hours I needed to kill at Dacre Cottege did seem interminable.
Managed to dry my tent, have a very early (4.00pm) dinner of dehydrated Thai curry and generally fill in time until about 5.00 when I decided I’d cross anyway and accept it would be 6” or so higher than if I waited.
Crossing went exceptionally well, decided to go “commando“ so minimal stuff needing drying and water was only to my waist. Lucky actually as while I was putting everything back into my pack noticed I’ve managed to tear a hole in my pack liner!
Once on the other side I wandered to the top of the hill and looking around figured I had this end of Long Bay park to myself. So stripped off and stood there naked drying and wringing out my clothes. No sooner had I got my clobber back on than a couple of mountain bikers appeared along the track. Whew, that was close, I could just imagine them reporting that a scruffy, slightly smelly naked guy was cavorting around in the park!
The walk to Browns Bay a lot of through the Long Bay Regional Park, while pretty hilly was uneventful and I arrived at Val and Hugh’s about 7.30pm. Really lovely people and like everyone interested in both what I’m doing and why. I really do, however, need to get some better answers to the why question! Their house is right on the beach at Torbay and has to get the prize for best sea views of the trip so far!
Day 26 (22 October) - Browns Bay to Auckland CBD (21km)
A relatively short day today, mainly road walking but also fair bit around the rocky foreshore.
Set off about 8.00 so a pretty leisurely start. Notably the blisters on both feet are getting larger and sorer. I did think the original one on the left was resolved but it seems to have gone out in sympathy with the right now and both feet are suffering.
Stopped for brunch at a cafe in Browns Bay. Most disappointing, seems in some peoples minds Spanish Beans are a can of Watties baked beans with onion sliced into it and topped with a bit of scrambled egg and a deep fried hash brown! Anyway, it did have calories so at least satisfied the energy needs if not the taste buds.
Today seems to be the day of people stopping me asking if I’m doing the TA then the inevitable how far is it and why questions. I’m continuing to stumble on why! Some options that have occurred are:
a. I’m wanted by the police/Hells Angels and thought this was a good way to evade them
b. I got drunk with some mates and was dared to do it
c. It’s on my bucket list
d. I don’t have a car and need to get to my new job in Bluff
Nothing seems to have the right ring to it so I’ll probably continue with the “not really sure, just because I can and it’s there”.
So a leisurely walk to Devonport where I caught the ferry to Auckland CBD.
I did bump into a guy (Alex) in Takapuna who it transpires is also doing the TA was a day behind me I think but has now caught up. Talking to him about timing it would seem we’re on a very similar timetable as far as Hamilton so no doubt I’ll see more of him over the forthcoming days.
Once in Auckland met Sean (my eldest son) for a beer then stayed with Mum and Dad.
My plan is to stay two nights in Auckland as a chance to rest a bit although I might walk a bit of the CBD to Airport section tomorrow in order to make the next day a bit shorter. Interestingly while it is less demanding physically, I do find the road walking, especially in built up areas, pretty tiring and mentally numbing. Also notable is how once you hit the suburbs and city how much more impersonal the experience is. I say hi to pretty much everyone I walk past and as I’ve got closer to Auckland less and less people respond.
Loving the blog John. Googled Walkabout and it is an Australian Aboriginal rite of passage for a person in their youth to transfer into adulthood. Sound like you to me;) Great answer to make people feel awkward asking! Happy walking, looking forward to some canoeing.