Wrong turn

12 April
Te Matawai Hut - Makahika Outdoor Pursuits Centre
KM 1550
Distance: 18.3km
Elevation: ascent 613m, descent 1346m
Steps: 37,200
Time: 6:35am/7:15 - 3:00pm

Another early start today so we could make good progress on a longish and moderately challenging section that would have us ascend 588m before descending 1,299m and put our knees to the test. Additionally, we were keen to be out of the Tararua Ranges before the windy and wet remnants of an ex-tropical cyclone pass through NZ. We fairly raced back up the track we had come down yesterday to rejoin the TA track! Only to find we had gone the wrong direction. Like, 180 degrees the wrong direction for 17 minutes. And up that cryptic track we described yesterday too! So you will see the amount climbed and descended is slightly more than planned...

Leaving before sunrise meant that we were privileged to see the day and the views unfolding as the sun rose. As you can see in the sequence of photos below it was still cloudy and misty, but pieces of sky on the horizon opened up now and then, treating us to views beyond the ranges and out to the west coast. While the wind was still strong at higher elevations, we were mostly below the bush line so unaffected.
Again we noticed things at our feet and to the side of the track which piqued our interest. A curious bundle of spikes at the branching point of a supplejack vine, an alien-esque stinkhorn funghi, and an unfurling fern frond.

We exited the track onto a private farm which lead to a road walk going north. A few km later we arrived at the Makahika Outdoor Pursuits Centre which provides accommodation for TA walkers. There is currently a school group in camp so there are no cabins available. Time to roll out the tent again! But there is a dedicated hot(!) shower/toilet/cooking area so we are well catered for. And the best thing is that they make the washing machine and dryer available! Which means clean clothes for the next few days through to Palmerston North. Well, the first day anyway. 
Three more days and we will jave finished filling in the section we missed earlier because of weather. 

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