Day 18 - Mangawhai

Going for the first 40km+ day today, from the town of Ruapākā to the next town of Mangawhai. Some beach, some mountain, some road, and some farmland; a diverse day ahead. 

A beach section is a great way to start the morning. It still feels very strange walking on a beach with the ocean on my left after spending 4 days on 90mile beach with it on my right. Feels like I’m going north, backwards, a scary thought. 

11am photo walking into small town Waipu on the street of Nova Scotia no less!

Some legend put lemons out for walkers. Perfect for such a hot day. 

Now up and over the mountain, hard work for such a hot sunny day. I walked past a house owner putting up Christmas decorations. She was trying to win a contest with her decorations. But in the hot exposed heat it all felt wrong, my brain keeps thinking it’s July. 

The view from up top. Hard to believe I was on top of those mountains way in the distance just yesterday. Really made me think about what the human body is capable of. 

Nice shady forest track. 

The coastline before reaching Mangawhai was a stunner.

 

I reached camp just as the owner was driving away, she told me to pitch my tent wherever and gave me the bathroom code. 41km finished and my body is feeling pretty fine, a good sign to have more big days.