Day 115 - Bald Hill

Going for another 40+ km day, once again it’s awkward hiking for accommodations in this section. Either I do 25km or 44km. 44km it is, although mostly roads today.

The morning brought a steep climb up a hill, the whole Takitimus which I came out of yesterday in the distance. 

In the monotone understory of a forestry block.

Normally the trail goes over another hill and continues on, however it’s currently closed because it goes through another forestry block that’s currently being felled. So I was forced to take a detour on the roads around. Today is the biggest road on the South Island I think. 

Back on the tracks starting the Longwood forest. Ive been hearing about this section for most of the South Island, because of how muddy it allegedly is. I haven’t been sure if this is weak NOBO talk who haven’t done the north island or if it’s actually muddy. 

It was muddy but not so bad today at least. I crossed paths with a NOBO who’s planning on doing the whole TA barefoot. With a colder weather and eventually snow I suspect he’ll switch to shoes before too long. 

I reached the top of Bald Hill where I planned to pitch tonight. It’s right next to a radio and cell tower with a noisy generator. 

From the hill you could see Bluff in the distance, the end of the trail. Seeing Bluff for first time shocked me a little. Hiking for the past 115 days it’s always felt like an endless journey. I knew it was going to end, but it always felt a lifetime away. It took seeing the physical ending of New Zealand for it to really hit me. There was and end, and it was coming very soon. I would be completing my journey whether I liked it or not.