A test for the knees

January 13th

Woodlaw Forest to Birchwood Station

Distance: 11km

Elevation: descent 350m

Steps: 18,300 

Today was a very nice, easy day. It started off a bit cold, still up on the hilltop (although in the forest), so we walked for a while before having our coffee - see, a proper coffee shop and everything!

Just before we left the forest, we saw wht looked like the remains of a small fire, or.. yeah that's definitely a bone in there, what is that pattern of stuff?? Oh, so it turns out this is what a hedgehog looks like after it's laid down for a peaceful death in the forest

Then we got to the downhill. And I mean hill as in singular, yes all 350m descent all at once. This was definitely a test for Vaughan's knees, even Eliza's knees were feeling it by halfway down. Here's what it looks like, imagine though that the camera is already tilted 30 degrees up to the sky:

And here's what it looks like on the elevation profile:

Once we got down off the hill, we were into prickly territory. From pretty much every direction. Fields of thistle, gorse and matagouri as we walked alongside barbed wire fences. So the lower legs are a bit scratched up, but really the feet are the winners on the day, with very little mud to contend with.

Since most people do yesterday and today all in one, we have now had two quite leisurely days, and our bodies are feeling fine! We got to Birchwood Station by 2pm, which is an active, working sheep farm, where the owners have very kindly made the old shearers' quarters available to TA trampers. 

There 's even - bliss- hot showers! Tonight we may decide to get a ride into the nearest town to go to the pub for dinner and a beer; if not, the Station owners offer to cook dinner for TA walkers for a small fee. What luxury!

Another benefit of being on a working farm is farm dogs. Some of whom are very friendly.

We've also officially revised our goal for this trip: Rather than saying we're walking to Cape Reinga, we are now saying we are walking the TA north, and however far we get in 5 months is where we'll be. We'll let the trail (and our bodies) decide exactly how far that is :)

Tomorrow and the next 3-4 days: the Takitimu range.