I am getting really into my book (currently reading Rothfuss, again) so I can’t help but read as much as possible but this means I lose time pretty fast. Rowan went to pay for our stay $20 which is super cheap. I got him to check that they were okay with us leaving late, they told us we could stay all day. We had a late breakfast and read some more. Finally getting motivated to put our thumbs out we left. Jordan came along about 2 hours after we started hitching. She had a long journey heading to Levin but all the way from Taumarunui and back. We had a good long chat she is really cool and has spent a lot of years in the South Island. We helped her pick up some ladders and then she dropped us at Geoff’s house.

Geoff was happy to see us. We went out food shopping for dinner and talked about heading into the ranges tomorrow. One problem our new mats are already having the same issue. So I call bivouac and ask them what to do. We end up deciding on heading into Wellington tomorrow for the day. We have Christian here tonight who has come back to go into the ranges before heading to the South Island. He walks way too fast for us so I doubt we will come across him again.

An early start as the commuter train leaves at 6.53am. Rowan is feeling quite dodgy and his tummy is not happy. I also don’t feel great but not as bad as he does. We arrive in Wellington and head to Macpac first. The manager there helps with our silk liner and we get it repaired. Rowan also needs his bag fixed as the straps keep loosening. Unfortunately this takes weeks so we will just work out a short term fix and do it after the ranges. We head into bivouac and get refunds for our mats. Of course they don’t want to keep replacing them. I just think we are too heavy and although they don’t have a weight limit maybe they should. We go into Kiwibank to sort out the card we are using. Then we jump on a bus to Newtown to pick up Rowan’s cheap mat from Michaela & Gareth’s place. Back on a bus into the CBD to catch another bus to Petone. In Petone we headed to Torpedo7 to chat about my boots. The glue is coming away, I have followed their care instructions but the leather is also cracking badly. I am hoping to replace them under warranty as I expected they would last at least halfway and it has been less than 500km! I have at least started the process but they may hold us up in Wellington. Off to Macpac as this one stocks the new mat I want (hopefully it lasts). We also pick up some waterproofing spray to use on my poncho. Then off to the supermarket for supplies. On the train back to Wellington now to wait for the 5.15pm commuter train, we should arrive in Levin about 7pm.

We have walked 10km today just running around getting jobs done. My feet are pretty sore, just wearing sandals today so not much support. I feel a lot better but Rowan is not feeling good. At Geoff’s we organise the food and pack for an early start.

Rowan is not feeling better and Geoff is nice enough to let us stay another night. It’s my mums birthday but she isn’t answering her phone so I send a text. I get relaxing and reading my book, I think to check the weather. Well damn there is a cyclone coming. All I can think is what do we do now, I don’t want to impose on Geoff longer than we already have. Rowan and I discuss throughout the day. We take a walk to the supermarket to get food for dinner tonight. I don’t want to be one of those stupid hikers you read about who go out knowing there is a storm on the horizon. Although it is not directly hitting us in the ranges it is predicted for extreme wind and rain. On the top of high peaks in severe winds is not a good idea. The weather is not making this stretch easy on us. Finally at 9.30pm we have a new plan. Geoff will drop us at Otaki Forks and we will walk south to Waikanae and be well ahead of the storm but there is no way for us to be able to walk in the middle. We considered many options including getting to a hut and waiting it out. But with no signal and a way to get updates on the weather it really is a silly idea. I am glad Rowan was sick as we wouldn’t have known until it hit us.