21km Day : 604km Total
19 January 2015
-41.301325, 173.569254

Yesterday I took a zero day in Havelock.  Resting up and preparing for what I expect to be an 8 day hike to St Arnaud.  With a 10 day supply of food it is the heaviest its been on the hike so far and probably will never be heavier.  I haven’t weighed it but I’m sure it’s close to 20 kg.

I had trouble getting to sleep last night.  It was nearly 1am before I dozed off.  So this morning I slept in.  Not a worry since I was to have a short easy walk today.  I stopped by the cafe at the info center for a coffee and donut.  I highly recommend their cinnamon donut.  The make it fresh on request.  Mine was still hot from the fryer.  I started walking at just past 9am.

The first half of today’s walk was on the roads. Most of which was one lane gravel roads through dairy farms. 

Then it became a trek through farms and pastures along the Pelorus river. 

This varied from open pastures to turnip fields to walking through a herd of cows.  One of the pastures was open but I had to be very careful not to step on the many fresh land mines laid by the cows.  But my infantry training was unnecessary to avoid the bovine biological expulsion mines (BBEs).  The cows made no effort to conceal them.

I climbed over at least a dozen stiles today.  A typical stile is shown in the photo below.

When I see these it always looks to me like they are giving me the finger.  Fortunately it looks like the good finger.  You’ll also see an orange triangle on the style post.  This is the default Te Araroa trail marker, but they can vary from colored ribbons or paint marks on trees to elaborate signs with arrows and distances and expected times..  Whenever I go for a while without seeing a triangle, I get a little nervous that I might have missed a turn.  I’ve gotten to the point that seeing an orange triangle gives me a warm feeling inside.

I’ve reached Pelorus Bridge campsite for tonight.  Just before arriving I crossed a swing bridge.  They do swing side to side as well as bounce up and down.  But even with all of the movement it doesn’t feel unsafe.