Day 32. Hamilton to Kapamahumga Range.

Today 29 km. Total 824 km (+8). 8 hours 15 minutes.  (1010-1040, 1130-1915).

I was woken by my alarm this morning which is unusual as I have normally been waking up unassisted.  It must be the comfortable bed and feeling relaxed. I went to the kitchen to have some cereal and Patrica was just coming back from the shops with milk.  She offered some poached eggs which I couldn't say no to and then offered bacon as well.  I ate my cereal and drank my cappuccino while she worked in the kitchen and then she preserved me with a masterpiece of 2 pieces of thick toast with a very generous helping of bacon,  2 farm fresh poached eggs,  a lovely sauce and a light sprinkle of pepper.  I challenge the best cafe to try and produce something that looks and tastes as good.  Then while we were talking Patrica made me some sandwiches and packaged the leftover of last night's pizza. I find it amazing that Patrica is so giving and genterous and doesn't think she is doing anything special. After that magnificent breakfast I finished packing and reluctantly said my goodbye.  Patrica and Clement have been amazing in their hospitality to a smelly stay hiker and I really hope we keep in touch as they are great people.

A sad goodbye to Patrica after a fantastic couple of days

I walked back around the lake to where I left the trail and was on the streets for a short walk to the Dinsdale shopping centre. It was lovely blue sky when I started but 5 minutes later the grey clouds rolled over and then there was light rain which I kept off with my umbrella.  That lasted a couple of minutes and then it cleared.

For some reason my knees were a little sore today and my right shin was also a little sore.  The only thing I can put it down to is my new inner soles.

Just as I got to Dinsdale it stated raining heavily but I was able to shelter under the shop awnings.  I went to the Post Office and mailed some stuff back to my parents to look after.  It is mainly things I had included in my resupply parcels that I did not need.  I then went to the supermarket to buy lunches and snacks for the next 4 days.

I finally left at 1130. After 1.5 km I was on Tills Lookout which I had never been to desite Hamilton being my old city (though in my defence I lived 30 minutes outside the city). There were nice views of the city.  Then 10 minutes later I reached the Taitua Arboretum.  This was another thing I didn't know existed.  It was a large piece of land where different trees were planted.  There were nice gravel paths and good maps and signs showing where the different types of trees were.

Just as I got to the end it started raining harder again but conveniently there was a shelter to take cover under.  I was joined by a guy with two Chocolate Labradors who were very interested in my snacks. He was a Hunter and we talked abut packs and gear.  He usually carries a 90 Litre pack!

The view of Mt Pirongia,  my next destination, from Tills Lookout

Great mailbox

The Arboretum

Not what I expected to see at the Arboretum

Convenient shelter from the rain

When the rain stopped I left and there was 1.5 km of road walking and then onto a trail through farmland up and down many little hills.  It was near the end of that I realised I had missed another 100 km milestone so I did a photo for 804 km.

800 (+4) km

The trail between the arboretum and Whatawhata

Same trail

Little tight getting between the posts

Letterbox

After the farm trail there was 3 km of road walking that went quickly and I was in Whatawhata. Now I was really on familiar ground as I drove past here thousands of times when I was in high school.  I grabbed a fruit juice from the service station and sat to eat the sandwiches Patrica had made.  They were delicious and very filing.

After crossing the Bridge over the Waipa River there was a trail beside the river.  It started out in trees then came out onto farmland. There was one herd of Heifers who were very friendly and really crowding me on all sides.  When I stayed waking again they were right on my heels.  Obviously the memory of the farmer feeding them as calves was still strong.

Whatawhata Bridge over the Waipa River

The trail beside the river

Same trail

Very friendly cows

Photo taken from the stile once I pushed my way through

Roadside flower

The trail ducked back onto the road to cross a steam by the road bridge then back into the fields but now there was very long grass to get through.  Then I crossed into a field growing something and it was really hard work making progress around the edges.

It was then up Old Mountain Road for 4 km to the start of the Kapamahumga Walkway. It was in this Walkway,  though heading north not South,  that I first got the spark about how tramping the whole country would be cool (see my very first blog for more on this). it was neat to see some of the old NZ Walkway signs were still there.  The trail followed the ridgeline through farmland with spectacular views over Hamilton and the surrounding farmland.  The only bad thing was the wind was freezing and I had to zip my top up and put my sleeves down which I don't do often.

Old Mountain Road

Looking at where I have come from

And the trail looking forward

Fantastic limestone formations

The old NZ Walkway signs and new

Old NZ Walkway sign and the orange triangles we are now following

Great view

Another great view

And another

And another

Once we came off the ridge line the trail entered a patch of bush for the descent and I found a nice campsite for the night.

Trail through the bush

Night 32

I ate the last of the Pizza for diner with some Biltong I was really happy to find in the supermarket followed by fruit leather.

All it takes is a full stomach,  cosy tent and knowing you have achieved some interesting km to be happy. 

Day 31. Hamilton. Zero day.

Today 0 km.

Today I had a great sleep in. Clem and Patrica were tramping today so I had the house to myself.  It was lovely laying in bed listening to the heavy rain and wind.  Eventually around 0930 I got up and had shower before having muslea and cupaccino for breakfast. Their expresso machine was great though it took a little while to work out how to use it.  It even had a grinder built in.

Lovely breakfast. That is the Lake in the background

I then settled into the couch looking over the lake and caught up with the world on Internet before starting to work on my blog.  The weather cleared so I thought I would try out the Spa Pool and it was amazing. Sitting in the warm water looking over the Lake was very relaxing.

Roughing it in Hamilton

Eventually I emerged and had another shower then made some lunch and another cupaccino before getting back to my blogs.  Patrica,  Clem and Chris (I think that is the name and if not sorry) returned from their hike up Mt Pirongia and we chatted for a bit then I showed Chris my gear as they had been taking about it and TA in the car.  I may have infected then with the TA bug as they are now taking about section hiking it over 4 years. Chris left and I just relaxed until dinner time.

As it was Friday night they have a special pizza and movie night. Clem made an amazing chicken and apricot pizza that I had to eat some of to have room for salad on the plate.  We watched Salmon Fishing In Yemen which I had never seen before and enjoyed. After the movie we chatted for a while then it was bed time. 

Day 30. Hakarimata Range to Hamilton.

Today  30 km. Total 795.5 km (+8). 9 hours.  (0715-1545, 1630-1650).

I decided to have a slightly earlier start as I wanted to reach Hamilton before the shops shut so I could get new inner soles. I managed to leave a whole 15 minutes before my normal time.

The track continued in the same way with lots of roots and I continued to enjoy it. After only one and a half hours I reached the lookout and was rewarded with fantastic views.  I could see all the way back to the Hunua Ranges and looking South I could see Mt Pirongia which I was heading for.

More great interesting trail

This is what it looks like before maintenance

Lots of roots but still fast travel

The summit

Not bad view

Looking at where I have come from. The quare is a helicopter pad

Great lookout

From here the trail improved to Walking Track standard which means wide gravel paths and stairs. I remember doing this part of the track with my mother back when I was in high school. It is unrecognisable now with all the improvements.  This has had a positive effect in opening up access to more than dedicated trampers.  I saw 13 people heading up for some exercise which is way more people than I have seen on any of the trails.

What a difference in track standard

Lots of Stairs

Even with handrails

The final stretch beside a stream

After a quick descent I reached Nguarawahia and decided after that effort I deserved a coffee.  I headed into the main part of town and spotted to take a photo of an impressive statue on the park outside Turangaweiwei House.

Turangawaewae House

There I had the good fortune to meet Clem. He had just driven the Hamilton Mayor and some council members off for a meeting and was having a break.  We started talking about tramping and the trail.  He is also a tramper and shortly be will be doing the Hollyford Walk with his wife and daughter. He offered me some coffee and a lovely slice which I greatfully accepted. I sat down at the table and we talked some more.  Eventually the subject of where I was staying in Hamilton came up and I said I was staying in a Backpacker. He instantly offered for me to stay at his house which was by the lake and not far from the trail. Once again I accepted, especially when he mentioned Spa pool. He rang his wife, Patrica, who agreed.

I said "see you later" to Clem and continued on my way. The trail followed the river going under the SH1 Bridge and past the Turangawaewae Marea, home of the Maori King and then cut back to SH1 for 5 km because the freezing works will not allow access to the river in front of them. Interesting the amount of road kill in front of the freezing works. Maybe animals sense the death there and get distracted. Also a bit mean for the cows in the paddock looking across and smelling the place they would be killed. The smell was not pleasant.

The trail heading back to the River Trail where it trail stayed apart from 2 km just after Fonterra (which smelled lovely with the milk powder processing) until Hamilton.  This is an amazing trail that is nearing completion which will make it around 70 km long shared use wide concrete trail from Nguarawahia to Cambridge.

Fortunately the thought of a concrete trail does not make me wince anymore as my new shoes have much better padding.

No complaints about size of grass verge. This is actually the old dump that was covered over on the way out of Nguarawahia

Hmm. Had his wife read this sign?

Impressive cycle/walkway

Even the Bridge is decorated. The green sign is whati was now following

Part of the section sponsored by Fonterra (NZ largest milk company)

More great trail

These did not look real and they were in the city and still in one piece

Rowers on the Waikato River

Nothing particularly interesting happened but it was nice walking along the river looking at the houses and rowers. Eventually I made it to Hamilton and I went first to the DOC office to get a 6 month Hut Pass which for $92 gives me access to every Hut in NZ except the Great Walk huts.  The first Hut of TA was on Mt Pirongia.  Unfortunately they were closed for the next two days.

I then headed to Bivouac to explain my inner sole issue and they did not seem too invested in the problem and did not pose any solution. Their comment was they had not heard of this happening before.  I was surprised as usually Bivouac customer service is excellent.  I ended up buying some inner soles and after asking got 20% off them.

Next was back onto the trail through Garden Place that doesn't seem much different from when I last saw it 20 years ago.

Garden Place in the centre of Hamilton

The trail then goes through a mall (how many long distance hiking trails do that?). I stopped for a fresh squeezed juice that I had been fantasising about and it was fantastic.  I also had some sushi to take the edge off my hunger.

Then it was on the road up and over the hill to the Lake trail.  The Lake was smaller than I remember and I do not remember any Pukeko of which there were heaps. They were so used to people I could get really close.  The were also some birds that sort of looked like Pukeko but were Black with a white thing on their head and cool blue feet.

Pukeko

Feeding time

Bird I have not seem before

Love the feet

Birds everywhere

Pukeko everywhere

I left the trail at the head of the Lake to make my way to Clem and Patrica's house and meet up with them on the trail as they were taking a walk.  Instantly I felt comfortable with Patrica which was a relief.  I knew I liked Clem but there is always a slight gamble in how one partner will react when the other invites a random smelly stranger to stay for 2 nights. I needn't have worried.  Patrica is just as warm and welcoming as Clem and as a tramper herself, understanding of what I was doing.

Trail Angels, Clem and Patrica, amazing lovely people. 

(No that is not their house though they have a fantastic house. I forgot to get a photo and twisted their arm to give me one)

They were fantastic.  I was shown my room and it was like a fancy hotel with towels laid on the bed and even a Whittakers Dark Chocolate Bar presented beautifully.  I was taken on a tour of the house which is beautiful and then given time to clean up.  I loved the little touches they have put in when renovating their home.  In the bathroom it had tiles and then some river stones in the walls that made me think of the South Island. I had a wonderful shower and put my smelly things into the wash before joining Patrica and Clem for a drink and some conversation.  We had a lovely dinner and very impressive desert,  regardless of Patrica saying it was simple. We then talked some more and I showed them all of my kit.  Nice to have people interested and appreciative.  Then it was bed time.