(800-1075km) Take a walk on the wild side

Leaving Hamilton. Roommate from the hostel - Maori guy, missing teeth, rastas - decides spontaneously to join me. Hasn't even a waterbottle, no rainclothes, no tent, while I carry four day's food. Not sure if backcountry pro or just crazy. Still don't know. 13km later he gets a call. Someone found his purse. He's off. Alone through a paddock. Herd of bulls runs francticly - away from me. Camp in the pines. Good camp.

Into Pirongia forest. Crossing five more paddocks with bulls. I'm singing. Nice walk through forest. 900m climb. Vine tips are the asparagus of the bush. I collect lots for dinner. In Pironga it's raining almost 24/7, but not now. Mud is deep as. Sunset from the hills top. I feel privileged.

Out of Pirongia forest. Kids play "the floor is lava". I play "step onto a root or sink more than ankle deep into mud". My speed is 1,5km/hour! Mudline just below the knee. Back at the road: 6km/hour. Sun's out. Young lambs, young calves.

To Waitomo and Te Kuiti: Do you know that feeling, when they play your favourite song in the club and you rush to the dancefloor? My favourite song is the birds singing and my dancefloor is the trail. Farmland, bush, river. Meet the two British, Rob&Tris around lunch. Stop, Burgertime! Onwards through bull paddock, meadows, bushland, meadows. Very scenic. Scare a couple pheasants and something bigger. No doubt: a male peacock. It's wild and it can fly! Backpackers at the hilltop of Te Kuiti. A real shower!

Mangaokewa stream. Resupply at Newworld supermarket for the next six days: peanut butter, oats, tuna. Doubles my backpacks weight. Leaving town with the British. Along the river, first easy, then challenging, then insane: slippery, narrow "path" along steep cliffs. Plus spiky gore plants, blackberrys and landslides. We slip couple times. One of the lads breaks his pole.

To Pureroa. Off the river easy walk on gravel and asphalt. Along the road a whole valley is carved by a mud avalanche. All trees gone, 50 m broad. Constant rain. Umbrella is a livesaver. End up walking all day anyway. Good, so we can already eat more. Rain onto my tarp. It's cosy in a way.

Into timbertrail. Waiting for rain to stop before we put down tents. Doesn't stop. The British tapes his nippels. Trail is ment for cyclists. While being tricky, muddy and steep to them, it's pure comfort to us hikers. Three massive suspension bridges and eventually less rain.

Timbertrail. Easy trail, landscape flashing by. All of a sudden: km 1000!!! We're damn proud. Nothing's there to indicate the achievement. So we lay the digits "1000" in white stones. Since the trail has just recently been changed, we are most likely the first hikers that celebrated a 1000 km here. Enjoy it, future hikers! Bridges, trail, bridges, less rain, free cake, more trail and finally camp on a meadow.

Out of Timbertrail. Late start, early stop. The new built shelter is just too inviting. Spend all afternoon chasing pheasants and playing cards.

Pleasant walk into Taumarunui. View onto the snowy mountains near Taupo. Chunk food. Feets up. Live's good. Happy end to be continued...