A walk in the woods

As it was quite a drive from Gisborne to Napier a decided to stop off at Morere where they had some hot springs and a few treks through the bush.

The sign said not for children and only in good weather. The weather was good and as I am now 25, not a child, so I decided to take the 3hr ridge loop track. The first 1.5hrs were good and climbed up to an amazing look out over the rolling hills and the coast in the distance. After a bit of lunch in the form of an apple and a couple of muslie bars I headed back down for the last 1 1/2 hours trek.

all was going well (well for the first 10 mins) then as the track hit a moutain stream the orange track markers disappeared. I had a quick look up and down the stream in both directions for the markers but there were none. With this I decided to head down stream (as it was easier) and started to walk along the river bank.

This was good for the first 200m then the track ran out. The only option, off with the sandals and this was now a walk "down the stream". I had been climbing down the stream for about 40 mins when it occurred to me that I had not seen an orange track mark since the track hit the stream. This was unusual - normally there are Marks every 100m or so. With this in mind I started to look for trees with the markes and headed up one of the banks in search of what looked like a track.

Another 20 mins later of tramping through the bush I became aware of my sandals still in my hand - this was it, I was now a bush man. (left: Artist impresion) All I needed to complete the picture was a pointy stick and a boar over one shoulder.

Soon after this I found a bridge with the good to see orange markers with the path continuing up the other side (the was no track on my side). This was probably the meaning of - only in good weather. The stream had that look of in high rain it would be about 2m higher and has probably washed the track and all markers away.

Now back on the track I was able to quicken the pace (still in bare feet - I had got the feel by now) and came to the hot springs with out any further inserdent. The next hour was spent relaxing in the springs and then, now refreshed, returned to the car and headed on back to civerlisation