Friday, February 22: Somewhat cloudy to begin with, becoming showery and, especially in exposed areas, windy
Tramping: 13.3 km
Waihohonu Hut (Doc, Great Walks, $36)
Sleep was unusually fragmented, possibly because the pillow kept on deflating. There was some snoring from the other two male inhabitants but it was survivable, possibly due to the high winds that were buffeting the hut./p>
It was also quite a bright night because of the full moon. Around dawn I was awake for the final time and noticed oranges and reds of the impending sunrise, and decided it was good enough for a timelapse. As I set my camera up I was soon joined by Trevor & then Jeff & Rachael, and it really was only 6:30.
Youtube Video
I was in no rush for breakfast and let the others use the kitchen bench space before I started. Trevor wanted an early start to Waihohonu, and J & R were trying for at least Mangaehuehu, and that was going to be difficult for them, especially with the weather and their heavy packs. I had my cheese, eggs, and crackers & margarine, together with a super espresso coffee (double shot in the small cup, because the larger cup had somehow filled with rei, and that was going to be used for washing up). J & R were then gone, and I packed up my stuff, stood the mattresses up and swept out the hut before leaving @ around 9:15.
Slide Show
Click on the image to stop/start the animation
Windy and overcast it was for a longer period, but just before Tukino Road the rain really set in, and I got my raincoat out and put the pack under cover (would a larger cover be doable? The crocs had to be packed into the bottom compartment, and some part of the pack was still exposed). A group of five women also heading for Waihohonu also turned up coming up the Tukino Road, and I overtook them and went on my way.
Not much of a day for photography, but the going was much better, smoother under foot, and fairly soon I could make out the ridge that the hut snuggles under. Further along some heath-like vegetation starts returning (in contrast to the very bare almost sandy lava ridges) and while a little wet for feet and lower trousers, it was a pleasant change.
The rock formations (something similar to a sandstone) were reminiscent of the Ohinepango Springs and very soon they also turned up, together with a first inhabitant of Waihohonu. I filled up a bottle of water and took a photo. Not long later the hut was signed and then there.
Interactive Map
Can’t see map? Click here!
The two-bob watch had decided to quit along the way, so the camera had to be deployed as a time piece. Will have to see whether the failure can be recovered from.
Trevor was into his cooked lunch when I arrived. I unpacked some stuff and claimed a bunk (#13) and brought my own lunch (muesli bars and sultanas) to the table to eat with Trevor. Eventually I unpacked the pack, putting all of the food into the ratsack and depositing it in the kitchen; the nearly empty pack is in an open locker, and some stuff is drying on the clothes drying racks in front of a fire while it rains outside. Will have to think about some dinner before everyone else’s dinner time, just to get in done in time.
The two-bob watch decided to work again after pressing the central white button. Quite possibly pressing the other buttons had turned it off.
Today’s tramping timetable:
| Where | When |
| Leave Rangipo | 9:20 |
| Finish @ Waihohonu Hut | 13:00 |
