Another day of waking. Another day of packing up. Another day of beach walking. But this time, under 20km worth!! The excitement was palpable! We got walking.
The highlight of the mornings walk was a mystery chopper, zooming overhead in what seemed to be a grid like pattern. Large cargo load swinging off the base. We wondered what it was for a while, before deciding on some sort of scientific explanation, like LIDAR or similar. That, or it was dispersing toxic gas over all the hikers…
We have met many people on the walk already. Most of them walked the extra 11km into town today, so it’s up to fate as to whether we see them again. Some we got to know a little bit, and others not at all.
Enzo, a young fellow who explained about his job working with teams of Husky dogs in -45 degree temperatures and, alternately, his “ordinary” life working in a pizzeria in France. We nicknamed him Stryder, owing to his dashing, rugged looks and very large walking stride. Stryder hadn’t heard of Lord of the Rings (he was that young!) and resolved to look it up before getting to Tongariro National Park (site of the infamous Mount Doom).
During the conversation, Stryder casually asked if I had heard the horse that he had seen grazing right next to my tent when he got up during the night. Ummmm. No. No I did not. I have been sleeping so well! I put it down to feeling so much more secure at night, having someone that cares about me looking out for me, and heaps of people around. Either that or it could be that I’m just completely buggered!
Janek from Germany, though young, was an absolute pro when it comes to long distance hiking. Conrad, also from Germany (I think) had just completed the Bibbulman in Australia, and come straight over to tackle this track. A young couple and his dad are here from the Netherlands and excited to be going on their first long distance trail. Others we saw regularly, but never actually met.
Now we are here at the campground and are the only hikers in sight. We’ve been greeted in the traditional way by a couple of Maori fellows who were impressed with Aubs Polynesian tattoo and the fact we were from Norfolk Island. Say what you want about our lovely, little island, but it is certainly a conversation starter.
The afternoon was spent wandering around the very small township; trying to entice a loveable, big mutt of a dog over to no avail – he’d just give us a bit of bark and then race around like an idiot; and yarning with, providing counselling to, and learning from a variety of characters who were staying at the park. Very friendly, talkative folk, the kiwis!
The evening ended bizarrely and awfully. Aubs and I were making our way back from the toilet block right before bed, when I noticed a man, dressed all in blue, appear from behind a fence just outside of the park. He had a gun, he raised it and he took aim, right into the middle of all the caravans. He fired. BOOM! BOOM! And he shot the loveable mutt with his air rifle. The mutt, whom we later found out to be called Romeo, howled and whined with pain, running around and around in circles trying to reach the source of the burning. Eventually he ran off, crying and whimpering with distress, no doubt towards home. He had been wearing a collar and a lead the whole time, had obviously escaped, but was much loved. As a dog lover, and a human, it was an awful thing to witness…not to mention dangerous and unsettling.
Romeo was known to many in the park. The upset and unease was palpable. No doubt the cops will be making a trip to see the shooter today. I hope they throw the book at him.
So, this one was not the best sleep in the world. I’m hoping this is the last we see of this sort of violence in New Zealand.
What is it with you and guns??
Another reason to be thankful Aubs is with you for moral support!
Very interesting topics today! xx
Sounds like you are meeting some interesting folks along the way .
But not the best night pleased Aub was with you. xx
A bit scary!