Day 10: Thanksgiving! Herekino- Ratea track beginning

We woke up still wet. All of our tents and my sleeping bag were soaked, but the sun was out! We woke up late and slow from the frustrating day before. Around 9 we were ready to go, but quite worried as we hadn't seen Andy pass us on the track yet. He arrived right as we put on our packs with a broken hiking pole and low spirits. He let us know he couldn't continue any farther and was going to hike out that day and get down to auckland. It was sad to see him go, but we all know it was the right call for him, this hasn't even been the challenging areas of the terack and Andy was struggling daily. We wish him the best, but now i've seen my first thru hiker drop out a mere 6 days into the walk. We began walking as Andy headed back towards town. 

The tack was steep and muddy, and I was grateful for my gaiters. The few peaks that we hit afforded splendid views of the valleys below, but the slogging through mud was difficult and slow. 

it took us the whole morning, but we broke out from the forest at a gorgeous farm in the sun and sat down for lunch and drying of our clothes, tents, and bags.  After being in a soaking wet jungle for a couple of days the sunny fields were heaven.

 The track detoured down a road, and Nick wanted to get a ride off the road, luckily we had no signal, so Manja and I enjoyed a nice road walk through some beautiful rural farmland for a while. 

About 5k into the road section we did end up getting a short ride tot he base of the Ratea track and began hiking up the mountains preparing for the 770m summit tomorrow.

As nick was whinging about the road hike and I was enjoying it, an old cliche came to mind that a good friend had reminded me of long ago: it's about the journey, not the destination. The journey so far has been amazing, and it's even more amazing when I consider it without a destination in mind. I'd love to complete the whiole track, but I'm beginning to realize that's not even why i'm here. I'm here to experience a new country with new people and no places to be or appontments to have. I'm here to walk and simoply be on a journey to wherever that journey will take me, and i'm excited to see what that brings. I have no idea what the rest of this track will look like, Io don't know how much will be road or track or town or rural or completely untamed. But I dont care. It doesn't amtter. the journey will be exactly what it is, and I have complete control over how I see that journey. so far it has been enlightening, painful, joyful and beautiful, but most definitely worthwhile. And i'm only 10 days in!

We got to the base of Ratea and nick stopped to fill his water in a stream. Manja continued on, and I chatted with nick for a bit before hiking on to go catch up with her. I filled my weater at the next stream and nick caught up with me, but we still hadn't seen Manja yet. We were beginning to wonder if we missed a track to the side when we peaked out and at the top there was Manja with none other than John and Kasper!

 I was elated that we had all made it to the Ratea and were able to get together again, as tomorrow seems like it will be quite challenging. We had a great thanksgiving dinner and chatted for a long time before bed. Company on the trail is always welcome!