Back, in-between the mountains,
Such a beautiful morning, and after a good night’s rest, and a coke from the local dairy yesterday, I was up out of bed and ready for the mountains. Give way traffic, I am on the Te Araroa… (it was funny seeing the small urban TA sign above the Give Way)
Generally an easy climb up the “Big Hill” track. It is maintained by a private reserve trust, so conditions were good and the gradient was easy to manage for my first real day back on the trail.
Over the saddle, the big climb for today complete. Bye bye ArrowTown and also bye bye reception. Adventure awaits.
Made it to MaceTown ahead of schedule. It is an old abandoned mining town, left for dead in 1920 when the quartz mine closed down. There are only a couple of restored buildings and mature trees that remains today, signalling the existence of a time and town now forgotten.
The plan was to tent here for the night, but because it was still warm, and I had time left in the day, I pushed on, into the Arrow river. Yes, this is more TA track like, and because I am lazy I chose the “low road” which is literally walking in, up the river. It seemed senseless to climb over a hill just to keep your shoes dry, and there are no guarantees. I got all the way up the Arrow river to just before the track starts to climb the next hill and made camp for the night. There is something special falling asleep listening to the white-ish noise from the river, surrounded by only mountains.
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44.8345 – 168.8351
13 March 2024
FP-62
2 responses to “MaceTown – Day 20.”
I am sure that I’m not alone in envying the tranquility and beauty that you are absorbing.
You are probably correct, but for anyone out there, I am sure there are beautiful spots just around the corner from where you live too, waiting to be explored.