Flat grass was hard to find in the tent area at Camp Elsdon. My tent was on a slight slope, so my mattress and I kept sliding to the end all night. Though I still managed to get some reasonable sleep.
When I turned my phone on in the morning to check the time, it randomly threw up this pic:
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| December 2020. My first day on the TA, starting out from Cape Reinga. Rocking a goofy sunhat |
I remember taking the photo, and feeling scared, and exhilarated. I couldn’t imagine then being where I am now. So much has happened since.
I had a little cry in my tent, thinking back to the start of this adventure, and ahead to what may soon be the end of it.
I realised too that last night will be the last time I’ll sleep in a tent on this trip, and possibly ever on the TA. I was very mindful of that as I went through my camp-dismantling routine - deflating the sleeping mat, rolling up the sleeping bag, dismantling the tent, and packing the backpack.
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| Before… |
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| …and after. |
After a few deep breaths, I headed off, at about 7:30am. It was another beautiful day. I thought of Perfect Day by Lou Reed (no Paul, not the dance remix!).
The route today was going to take me up a bush track to a lookout point on the highest hill in Porirua, Colonial Knob. I knew it would be a bit steep, but no-one told me there would be almost 800 stairs! My shirt was drenched with sweat and I was pooped by the time I reached the lookout. The views from the lookout however were stunning.
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| Another attempt at a panoramic shot |
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| Looking West to sea |
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| Looking North to Porirua and the Tararuas |
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| Time for breakfast while admiring the view |
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| The Colonial Knob Lookout |
Heading on down the trail, I was surprised to find I was still going uphill. Eventually I realised that the lookout was only a stop along the way - Colonial Knob itself was still further away, and even higher! The steepness continued, although at least there were no more steps - and the views got better and better as I carried on.
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| The Lookout is now just a tiny speck in the distance |
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| More views out to sea… |
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| …and over Porirua… |
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| …and of the trail ahead. |
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| Finally, at the highest point |
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| The South Island seems very close from here |
Eventually it was time to start descending - down the hills, through a pine forest, and eventually onto a quiet road.
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| Over hilly farmland (with the occasional cow) |
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| 10am pic: Passing through the Spicer Forest |
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| Sitting in The Dschungel. (Actually I just stopped on the side of the road for a snack. Tuna and crackers) |
After 6km of road walking, the path once again started steadily uphill. This time I was headed up another hilltop walkway to Mt Kaukau, on the edge of Wellington city.
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| Stopping on a seat for a while, watching the wind turbines |
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| My destination |
Plodding steadily uphill, I started thinking again about that naive photo from my first day. It brought back so many memories of the last few years on the TA. I thought of my hopes and expectations on that first day. I thought of my very first TA song, Supertramp’s Two of Us*. I thought of life, and the passing of time, and loneliness, and doing things I never thought I could, and goodbyes.
I ended up bawling my eyes out for a while. It was a pretty big weep.
Back to plodding uphill. Finally, I was at the top of Mt Kaukau. Again, such amazing views!
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| I made it! |
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| If the television tower looks like it’s had a haircut, it has. Apparently it lost its antenna a few years ago in an accident with a helicopter. |
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| My first glimpse of Wellington! |
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| The South Island is getting closer… |
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| They say you can’t beat Wellington on a sunny day. They may be right! |
Heading down the hill, the views kept on coming. The wind on the exposed ridge started picking up too however. After another half hour I turned down a steep track, which eventually exited in the suburb of Ngaio.
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| About to head down to Ngaio |
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| One last look at the South Island… |
Tonight I’m staying with Jane, who lives just a few kilometres from Ngaio. Jane is a good friend of Adele (Janet’s daughter, from Whanganui) - that night I spent in Whanganui back on Dec 27, Adele gave me Jane’s number. Jane very kindly picked me up from Ngaio, fed and watered me, and gave me a lovely bed for the evening. Jane, you are a star - thanks so much for going out of your way to welcome a complete stranger! When I’ve been alone for several weeks kindnesses like this mean so much, I really appreciate it.
I’ve had a lovely evening with Jane, son Dylan and neighbour John (and dogs Wink and Lucy), and right now I’m in bed finishing off my blog. It’s been a big day, more tiring than expected with all the hills. Time for my beauty sleep. Tomorrow, I’ll reach central Wellington. My TA is almost over.
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| Today’s route |
*The live version of course, off their Live in Paris album
Had forgotten about your sun hat, if it was a slightly different shape you could have been Sister Bertrill (unsure of the spelling) doppelgänger a la Sally Field from the TV show The Flying Nun. I can hear the craft beers chilling as I type this. FaceTime tonight, and you will soon be FaceTime in person. Youv’e done exceptionally well this TA, coping with some extra challenges. Love you heaps. XXX
ReplyDeleteYes it was a serious fashion disaster. Almost at the finish line now! xx
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