Te Araroa – Part Two

On the Timber Trail to Bog Inn Hut. 

Come on.  There’s a joke or two to be made there.  You know it and I know it.  Let’s move on.  

The day dawned nice and clear.  No more rain.  Aubs and I had had a fairly “strong” discussion the night before around our holiday expectations.  The message was clear.  The “you do you” mentality should be the guiding light in order for us both to enjoy our break.  A kind of “see you when I see you” thing.  

In the spirit of that, I packed and left when I was ready in the happy knowledge that I was likely to see Aubs at the accommodation later that day.  

The walk was pretty spectacular, the gradual uphill gradient winding through virgin forest.  Every tree sticky with epiphytes all along the massive stems. A highlight was watching a group of the large parrots, kakas, shouting into the treetops, buzzing and divebombing each other. 

The track was bicycle ride pleasant.  Single, stony and no mud.  It felt great to be able to sail along at a fairly rapid rate.  I arrived at a little shelter hut and spied….no, it can’t be….nooooo.  But it is! I nab my prize and put it in my bag.  Chasse on.  

The TA path leaves the main cycle route to climb to the peak of Pureora Mountain.  This feels much more like the true TA.  Muddy, overgrown, tree roots, erosion.  At the top is bitterly cold.  I snap a few photos of the amazing view, including the revered Lake Taupo, before bunkering down for a break.  

A TA sign at the start of the journey off the mountain did not bode well “This track is no longer maintained by DOC”.  Sounds like it’s going to be very pleasant! Luckily, it doesn’t last long and I am soon back on the bicycle highway.  

Digs tonight is the rather salubrious sounding Bog Inn Hut, just a couple of km of TA style track off the Timber Trail.  Built in the 1960’s it was a cute little four bed situation with table, washing up sink and an old iron fireplace.  I was more interested in setting up in the magical fairy glade out the back.  Before long, home was ready.  

Aubs had arrived at this point, with both of us confirming that it was “fucking cold!”. This was a night for every layer of clothing that had been carried thus far, and a strong reminder that we were up in the alpine region.  Not to be trifled with. 

As dinner preparations got underway,I casually said to Aubs, “Guess what I found today!”

What? 

This! And I flourished the sachet of tuna I had fortuitously come across.

“You are KIDDING me!” said a disbelieving Aubs.  Both of us had searched high and low for any such sachets of tuna back in Te Kuiti, without luck.  What have I said before.  The trail always provides.  And, you just have to get lucky sometimes.