Gisborne Gadabout

Disused Gisborne Railway

Gisborne Car Park

Firstly Hi to Icy and Cedric & Sally, thanks for the comments you posted on this blog. I do enjoy receiving them.

I left Wairoa on Saturday 21st September after a pleasant stay at the Riverside Camp Ground.  I walked the first 2km up the main road, sans my large pack. Stu from the camp took it to where the road meets the railway line. From there I walked 6km along the disused railway to Tuhara then turned right towards the beach. My map showed a road to the beach but a farmer on a motorbike advised me that I would need to cross his land. Richard readily gave me permission and also offered me the use of his cabin at the beach. I had intended to walk further that day but a cabin is always better than my small tent.

The cabin was locked but a window was open so managed to open the door from the inside. I noticed a hole in the floor chewed by rats so covered it over to keep them out. Later that night I could hear them scratching and clawing but a bang on the floor or walls shut them up up for awhile. About 1am I noticed a shadow on the INSIDE of the window and realised that the scratching had been Mr Rat trying to get out not in! I uncovered the hole and a short time later heard it scrabble through the hole and never heard another thing for the rest of the night.

The next day, after waiting an hour for the rain to cease, I covered 18km, all on the beach. I camped in a sheltered spot not far from Nuhaka. On Monday I was away at 7.50am. the first 3km was on the beach but I had to head 1km inland to cross the Nuhaka River by a railway bridge. Just before the bridge I came to a deep side stream. A semi submerged fallen tree was the only way across. As it was I got wet to my waist but the day was hot and I soon dried out. I could have been a lot wetter, a side branch broke off in my hand as I was crossing and I nearly fell in.

I walked along the railway for 4km and then on the road for 5km. I had not seen anyone for two days and was short of water and refilled my water bottle from an outside tap at a house near the road. A short while later I came to a petrol station and bought myself an ice cream. The final stretch for the day was 3km along the beach to Mahia where I booked into the Motor Camp. The price of cabins was outside of my budget so I paid for a campsite.

The following day the forecast was for heavy rain and gale force winds so I had no choice but to book into a cabin for the next two nights. The owner Jacinda generously gave me two nights for the price of one. I spent the next two days reading, doing crosswords and watching the America's Cup yatch racing, on the camp TV, with two other couples staying at the camp, also sheltering from the storm, Sel & Jenny and Dale & Jenny. From the local shop I also picked up a copy of The Wairoa Star with an article and photo about my walk. One night I had a pub meal and John who cooked my meal recognised me from the article. World famous in Mahia!!!

On Thursday 26th September I walked 19km on roads and farm tracks. I had my raincoat and leggings on when I left Mahia but was down to shirt and shorts by the afternoon. I passed through Mahanga and got permission from Malcolm Rough to cross his farm. From there it was a steady climb for 6km until I reached a pine plantation. A gang of loggers was at work and I struggled through the thick mud past their work site. They advised me that there was a 2nd gang just down the road and they would let them know by radio that I was coming through. Shortly after passing the second gang I camped for the night alongside a disused house and old woolshed. A pleasant wind free spot complete with a longdrop!

Next morning I walked down Paritu Rd and after 2km a ute stopped and the driver offered me a ride. I declined but asked him to take my pack to the end of the road, a distance of 10km. It turned out that Shane had been in the 2nd gang I'd passed the day before and they did in fact receive a radio message about me. "Bear Grylls is coming through!! Just before the main road I collected my pack and refilled my water bottles. My map showed no houses on Paritu Rd but I saw 13 people by the time I had reached the end. Next it was 3km along State Highway 2 and finally another 8km along the railway track. Total walked that day was 23km. At that point I stepped out onto the road and, as a van was coming put my thumb out, the van stopped and within 30 seconds of leaving the track I was in the van and on my way to Gisborne. Once there I booked into the YHA.

On Saturday I hitched back to where I had left off the day before and walked another 10kms along the rail tracks and crossed the rail bridge over the Waipaoa River. I then followed the stop banks to the beach. I had the choice of following the beach, a road or a 4wd track for the final 8km into Gisborne. I chose the track. I was shocked at the amount of rubbish dumped along this track. The worst I have seen since I started my walk. When I reached Gisborne I stopped to read an inscription on a statue and heard someone say my name. I had met Sel and Jenny at Mahia, so we had a catch up. They are an Australian couple who have been travelling in NZ since last December. To celebrate reaching Gisborne I shouted myself a bottle of wine.

I had yesterday off and today am doing some chores, updating blog, shopping and being interviewed by the local paper. Tomorrow I head off again, this time to go around East Cape. As there are few accessible beaches, that join up, or tracks, I will mostly be walking on the road.

Total km walked so far = 166 since restart 2 weeks ago. 730 North Island and 2466 in total.

Unfortunately I left my camera behind at the hostel so pictures will have to wait.