16 Oct, 255- 249km, 6km, 2 hrs

Warm and Sunny

Last night, Fri, Air NZ cancelled my Tauranga flight transit Auckland. The last available flight out of Kerikeri is next Tues to Wellington so I booked it. I also need ongoing flight bookings back to Tauranga to be eligible to cross from L3 into L2 and return home. A negative covid test is also needed along with proof address and photo id.

I scouted the internet and talked with anyone who would pick up the phone.

At low tide I headed out along the Opua – Paihia track. A real pleasant wander. As I came to Paihia I thought I would pop in to the Pickled Parrot to see if local info could enlighten me on how to get tested in Paihia.

I was informed only one person was staying and it was Mike who shared Ninety Mile Beach with me.

We chatted and shared stories of our different journeys since Ahipara. Wow what a difference a day makes to the mix with weather.

I wandered on to get poor responses face to face at the medical centre. Phoned all taxi, testing services again. I had to get to Kerikeri to be tested. There was no collection of samples anywhere but Kerikeri who tested every day and Kawakawa on Mon.

So I reached out to the trail angels and they obliged. Wow such amazing support amongst people who walk and live locally or know the track and services. A stretch to be so vulnerable having to get somewhere without transport in a short time span.

I was tested and returned home safely having a wonderful afternoon in a trail bubble. An obscure report, we are in L3 you know. No rules were broken in my quest to be tested so I can get back to work out where next.

Arrived back in Opua, with a new vigor to still make something of this through-hike, now an assembly of covid bits and pieces.

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