Day 4: Hukatere campsite to Ahipara (31km, 8 hours)

Off at 5:30am again this morning. I think I woke Clare up with my rustling trying to pack up in the dark - sorry Clare! 

My last beach sunrise.

Poor little eagle ray...

I felt pretty good to start, on the home stretch! So I made good time for the first 4 hours. 

There were about a dozen cars passing today. But still very few people, until I got close to Ahipara. In the three previous days, apart from Clare I’ve only seen a couple of fishermen on the beach. But there are signs I’m getting closer to civilisation now.

At the halfway mark. Who put a chair on the beach?

A fisherman drove by while I was sitting in it, and called out “great view!”

It was!

My 10am pic. Those hills in the distance are Ahipara - the end of the beach!

This is where I’ve come from. Cape Reinga seems a long way back.

I was doing good time, but started to struggle as I got close to Ahipara. My feet and shin were sore, and I was finally starting to notice discomfort in my left “uphill” hip. And while Ahipara looked tantalisingly close, it never seemed to get any closer!

Ahipara. Are we there yet?

I finally staggered off the beach at about 1pm. Goodbye 90 Mile Beach! 

I continued to stagger to the local YHA, about 1km away. I was expecting to camp, but they had 1 free room, so I snapped it up.

My cute cabin at the YHA. It even has a fridge and TV.

And then I collapsed on the bed for an hour and a half. I don’t think I could have walked another step!

Later, after a shower and a meal at the local takeaways, I was starting to feel almost human again. 

A healthy dinner 😁. The burger was average, the chips were amazing!

Well, I think the last 4 days have gone pretty well, all things considered. No blisters; good walking weather; my fitness held up well; aches and pains, but no more than expected. The only downer was my swollen shin - but I made it 100km down the beach despite it. I just hope it holds up for the next sections of the Te Araroa.

Tomorrow will be road walking back to Kaitaia - only 15km. Until then - goodbye 90 Mile Beach! You’ve been tough, but you taught me a lot.

My final pic looking back up 90 Mile Beach