“Believe you can and you’re halfway there”
Theodore Roosevelt
Day 49 to 54
- Day 49 – Whanganui to Bulls ; 40 km
- Day 50 – Bulls to Feilding ; 25 km
- Day 51 – Feilding to Palmerston North ; 26 km
- Day 52 – Palmerston North to Moturimu; 31 km plus 19 km around town to keep my kilometres the same as the trail haha
- Day 53 – Moturimu to Tokomaru ; 15 km
- Day 54 – Tokomaru to Levin ; 22 km
Total hiked: 1554 km
On leaving Whanganui I waved goodbye to Dad and briefly the official trail.
The next portion of the trail involved a tidal river crossing to Koitiata; given the 20:40 low tide, my previous crossing experience and the fact that I was back to being a solo trotter I didn’t fancy a nighttime swim in a foreign current nor the very large road bypass. So a detour it was.
Previous seasons trails have passed from Whanganui to Bulls and I was already planning to trot quite a bit of road to Palmerston North anyway, so with the old trail route in mind I set off. At least I was still headed south.
Bulls; what to say, it’s unbelieva-bull, no that’s not right, it’s incredi-bull, no no, it’s adora-bull, that’s it! It’s the town full of bull puns and rightly so, look anywhere and you’ll see a bull. It was also the first time on trail that I was pleased to pose with a bull, plastic of course 😛
Trotting to Feilding I passed more state highway, many bull paddocks and gained holes in my trail shoes. Fortunately my audiobook was really enjoyable and the first store I saw on entering town sold ice cream 🙂
From Feilding I passed through Bunnythorpe (yes that is the name of a real place) and alongside the Manawatū River into Palmerston North.
Approaching Palmerston North I had mixed feelings. I was nearing halfway on the trail which is a very exciting achievement for anyone but sadly two very dear friends of mine weren’t here to celebrate this with me. Had I trotted this trail two years ago I would have been able to share this experience with them. Back then when I was living in Palmerston North I shared many great times with them. Despite feeling terrible within myself, they both were able to cheer me up whenever we were together and encouraged me to do whatever would make me happy. Now I would want to share this with them, show them how far I had come and how they had helped me be a happier person.
Sadly, very, very sadly this is not possible. Instead I sit in The Square and think about all the great, wonderful, unforgettable times we shared; not just in Palmerston North but in Gisborne, Auckland and afar. The potlucks, games nights, beach adventures, long days at work, never ending weekend shifts, first night shifts, cave trips, roadie trips, curry dinners, dumpling dinners, flat dinners. The two of you will always hold a special spot in my heart and while I can’t thank you in person for being incredible human-beings not just to me but every person you interacted with, I want you to know I wouldn’t be here at the halfway point without you and for that I always be grateful.
“A great friend is something to be cherished, whether they remain by your side in this life or wait for you in the next.”
Greek Proverb
My night stay in Palmerston North was only the second night on trail that I stayed in a hut. Of all places in New Zealand I doubt many of you would think there would be a DOC hut named Whiowhio in someone’s backyard in Palmy; thanks Anthony and Fiona. I highly recommend if you’re trotting through to check out this cool place 🙂
Leaving Palmerston North I met a fellow TA hiker Alix and her friend Ben who were also headed SOBO and about to the start the ‘Baby Tararuas’; a section encompassing Back Track, Burtton’s Track and Mangahao-Makahika Track.
We trotted together for the next three days and I had a really enjoyable time. Laughing together, comparing smelliness, chatting about hiking food, showing pack contents, debating best chocolate flavours, discussing what G.C could stand for, sharing work stories and all while checking no one slipped off the trail or got carried away in one of the many river crossings. Thanks for the Good Company and Great Chat 😛
After a large slip during the December 2021 storm which damned the Tokomaru River, a section of trail on Burtton’s Track that normally passes alongside the river became a calf deep river-trail hybrid. It might sound like a boggy, wet, muddy disaster but it was actually my favourite party of the entire day!
The Mangahao-Makahika Track heading towards Levin was also an incredible trail. The track exhibited diverse fauna with every turn and gulley; enchanted, moss covered trees and forest floor to vine woven trunks and sparse open landscapes, we were in awe throughout. While the ridge line provided magnificent views from Horowhenua and Archie’s Lookout across Shannon, Levin, the Tararuas, Kapiti Island and even gave us a glimpse of the South Island in the distance.
During this section of trail I reminisced about dear friends and meet some new ones, I also achieved a pretty big accomplishment myself. I have now trotted over 1500 kilometres. I have completed over half the country. I am now closer to Bluff than I am to Cape Reinga! Wow 🙂
Happy trotting everyone!!!
GC Chronicles 
Well done Alex, Love the Bulls jokes another great read and wonderful pictures
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Well done Alex, amazing to have come so far, go you! Looking forward to an adventure on the QC with you next week.
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