It was quite a cold evening. The cat decided to stay in my tent vestibule half the night. Because of the cold, or wanting company I’m not sure. When I emerged from my tent this morning, the landscape was awash with an eerie, white mist. Smoke rising from a cauldron.
I said my farewells to the dog-like cat, and we were on the road by 7.30am.
Comparatively it was a really pleasant walk today along a quiet, gravelly 4WD track.
I spent much of the day making comparisons between Norfolk plants and animals and those of New Zealand. Last time I came to NZ, I didn’t have the knowledge of Norfolk’s species like I do now. This trip, I recognise related species of long leaved Isaacwood, glossy leaved Coprosma, serrated edged Streblus, pre-historic looking procris, giant melky trees and more. I spot cheeky, little grey fantails and colourful blue nufkas. Rurus, or moreporks as we call them, are constant night time callers. Over the past few years I have learnt that Norfolks plants and animals are much more similar to those of NZ, than they are to Australia. It’s so enlightening to see that in practice.
The stars of the day however are the ancient Kauri trees. They tower over the forest, life support for hundreds ferns, orchids and stags growing on their skin. We witness the base of one of these forest giants, it’s girth measuring many metres in diameter.
It’s a long, hot afternoon in camp. The new campsite, designed to limit the spread of the soil borne disease phytophera further into the forest, seems large at first. It shrinks over time however, as more and more walkers arrive, elated and exhausted to the campsite. At last count there are twelve of us here, with reports of more to arrive.
It’s a quietly anxious night for all of us. We all have an arduous day ahead of us. 22km. Expected time to completion….9.5 hours. And if it rains, we can’t go at all. As the sky begins to spit, the campground empties. Everybody has fingers crossed that the rain will stop. Zippers are closed and lights go out. Here’s hoping.
Poor little cat-dog…. just when it thought it had a new friend!
The little white dog at home thinks I am her new friend, but it’s all about the WALK and the DINNER!