Day 39 (Dec 9) To National Park

We visited the Redwood Forest  on our way out of Rotorua. It was my third visit, but it really is a very special place and I was happy to spend some more time among the elders in this forest.

It turned out to be a lovely blue sky day and the driving was easy. We stopped at a look out over Taupo and could see the snow on the mountains at Tongariro. Good opportunity for me to stir Majella about throwing her thermals away.

Got to Howard's Lodge and passed inspection for the crossing in the morning- suitable shoes - check; raincoat - check;  seem to have a remote dose of common sense - check!

An air raid siren put the wind up us not long after we had arrived. Thermal event? Eruption? Seek shelter from volcanic ash?

Nobody came to make sure we were leaving the building and we could find no one to ask - maybe they were already in the bunker!'

Couldn't see anything that would indicate people fleeing for their lives so we settled down and then it happened again! Finally found a person to ask who told us that it was for the emergency volunteers to call them in and was usually in response to a car accident or fire.

Weather forecast is still the same. Morning cloud, some sunny periods, clouding over again with winds picking in the evening. Cloud in the morning would be nice as it would be cooler for us when we hit the stairs. If it cleared when we got to the ridge line that would be awesome and we should be well and truly down by the time the weather came in again.

 Forecast isn't too bad really. Majella said to just talk to my weather gods, they will sought it for us.

Pigeon xx

Day 38 (Dec 8) Rotorua and Waimangu Volcanic Valley (17km walking)

Pleasant day chasing thermal activity in and around Rotorua. Managed to clock up some decent kms in our meanderings and topped of the day with dinner in my favourite Rotorua eatery 'Abracadabra'.

I received a response from Alex and Harriet and the plan is for me to meet them in Palmerston North and walk out from there at the same time as them.

Wasn't able to get a massage - magic pill for dessert tonight.

Pigeon xx

Day 37 (Dec 7) To Rotorua

Am missing the connection with the Trail and my TA family - feel like I've lost a bit of mojo. Bit of a nothing day today. Nice drive to Rotorua, a bit of a walk, but did manage to book accommodation and shuttles for Tongariro on Thursday. Fingers crossed weather will be Ok.

Am going to try and get a massage tomorrow. My right leg, especially my knee is still tight with inflammation. I messaged Harriet and Alex to see what they were up to and what there plans were for the Tararuas - it would be good to walk out with those two in the vicinity.

Pigeon xx

Day 36 (Dec 6) - White Island (Off TA)

We weren't sure whether the trip would be on  due to the weather, but the day seemed calm enough when we got up.  Even so, we were glad to get the confirmation call that the trip was going ahead. Hour and a half trip out to White Island - New Zealand's only currently active volcano. Boat trip was a little rough and a few people were a bit green on the way over.

I was so excited! You could see the island getting closer and the plume of steam that made this island different to most- so cool!

We all got a hard hat and a gas mask then were ferried across in an inflatable to the Island. Safety brief - if the volcano erupts seek shelter, cover your head, but don't go on the mounds because they'll collapse and you'll end up in an acid bath! When the eruption is over they will collect the survivors and give out lunch. Sounds like a plan!

Walking around the crater was so surreal - like being on another planet. They used to mine sulphur on the island but had to work hard to get it - the huge deposits we could see were on areas too dangerous to mine so they had to dig it out from a ridge away from the centre of the crater and heat the rock to extract it. We tasted the sulphur and it wasn't disgusting as you might imagine, it was actually quite salty/sweet. The sulphur smell wasn't too bad either, but the gases sometimes burnt you  in the back of the throat and quite a lot of people had to wear their gas masks the whole way through.   We got to walk in amongst the vents and along the edge of the crater for a couple of hours - totally awesome!


Pigeon xx

Day 35 (Dec 5) to Whakatane ( off TA)

Stirred close to 7am and knew that Nathan would be well and truly travelling by then so not likely to see him. Packed up, had breakfast and then headed up the road to the start of the Waitomo Walkway. It was pleasant stroll along the stream to the Ruakuri reserve for a walk through the gorge and through some natural tunnels. The forest was lovely, but having done yesterday's trip the 'cave' formations were a little 'beige' and the bus load of tourists didn't help the ambience!
 Back  to the car and time for a quick coffee before heading to Taumarunui to pick up a box.
I checked the weather and it wasn't looking great for the Tongariro for the next few days. Gale force winds were forecast along with snow at higher peaks. Temperature at Red Lake down to -7, we  decided to head straight to Whakatane (scenic route thanks to Google Maps) and got ourselves on the White Island  tour for tomorrow.

Pigeon xx