Kerikeri to Paihia

Day 15
Date 3 November 2019
Km 22.6
Cumulative km 222.2

The day started with a walk from the Holiday Park to the Stone Store in Kerikeri. This is actually the official end of this trail section but as we caught a ride to the accommodation, we hadn’t actually been here. So it was some 2km to get there. It was as quaint as I remember , though better as there were no people!

I spent a few minutes walking around the church, Stone Store and Kemp house and then carried on a few kilometres of road walking until hitting the 15 km forest trail to Waitangi.

This forest is a commercial pine forest and has a great pine smell. It’s pretty nice walking, but as these same things, get weary after a few kilometres of the same.
Coming out of the forest is a lookout across the Bay of Islands- a great part of NZ- especially in cloudless weather like I was having. A bit further down the road, when the forest stops and there was no tree cover it got hot! The views were still lovely though!

It was around 15h30 though and my feet were super sore. So I stopped for a few minutes and tried to hitch a ride for the last 3km. And it worked! Car #3 – an older couple from Canada, just coming back from Sunday golf, stopped and took me to the door of my hostel!! Yeah! Winning!

Upon arriving I took my shoes off to inspect my feet and noted that my toenail had very much lifted from the bed and was just attached around the edges. I decided to seek medical advice the next day- Monday.

Day 16
Km 6

Cumulative km 228.6

Today was another off day, though I did a few kilometres to/ from nurse and then to the Waitangi Treaty Ground.

Firstly the nurse checked me out- no doctor. No infection, I must keep the nailed trimmed, disinfected, dry and clean. She checked inside to see new nail growth and said I should keep this nail as long as possible for protection, but it will fall off soonish.

Based on this I have organised a road trip to miss the Russel forest, which includes 4km of river walking and possible mud, and join the track thereafter.

I did an afternoon visit at the Waitangi Treaty ground- a foreign entry ticket is 50 NZD ! Luckily I have my NZ license, so it was half price. The price includes a cultural performance and guided tour.