30 October

Paihia today. We are currently waiting at Beachside Holiday Park for our boat ride up the Waikare Inlet. Yesterday we walked from Kerikeri to Paihia 25 km. Before that we had two days staying with Wayne's brother Matthew and sister in law Lynette as my blisters flared up again after we had to do a 12 hour day through the Raetea Forest mainly because we could not find water along the way then once we got out to the road it was another 7 km on State Highway 1 to Mungamuka. By the time we finished my feet were on fire and the blisters were back. It is very humbling thing to be so slow with our trek. But we are still determined to keep on all be it slowly till my feet harden up.  We have missed one section through the Puketi Forest as after Mathews it was raining heavy and advised that with the rain the river would be high and the trail took us 2km up the river bed so we are planning to come back in March to do this track. We have had variable weather some rain some sun. We have already sent home two parcels to lighten our load. It is amazing what you really need. My pack now weighs 8.5kg. Wayne's weighs about 11.5kg. He is carrying most of the food! But I am desperate to heal these blisters. We are looking forward to next few days as we can do smaller days. We will do 10 km today.