By Ruth
Distance: 5 km
Today was another rest day for us in Palmy. We slept in until after 7, then went out for breakfast and coffee. The coffee shop we went to seemed to be a favourite local spot as the owner/barista knew everyone who came in by name and coffee order. We got to chatting with some of the regulars and one man in particular was very forthcoming with his opinions, including about Justin Trudeau (it was negative). Interestingly he’s not the first Kiwi we’ve met to express that particular opinion to us. Anyway we also discussed the declining sheep population in NZ (according to him, they are being replaced by dairy cows). This last fact was sad for us wooly wanderers to hear!
After breakfast we went to the mall to pick up some new travel-size soaps and a gas canister, then popped into the New World to resupply for the next three days on trail. It being Christmas Eve meant everything was pretty busy. At that point it started to rain and we returned to our motel – luxuriating in having a dry, comfortable place to be as the rain poured down outside. I got some good reading in and Elliot got a nap!
When we were staying at John and Ali’s in Hamilton, they had mentioned some trail angels in Palmerston North, who had built a replica DOC hut in their backyard, to host TA walkers. Although we had decided to treat ourselves to a motel room while we’re here, we really wanted to see this hut. So in the afternoon, we hit the trail. We walked about 5 km from our motel to the other side of town, along the TA route which follows a riverside walkway. It was raining heavily on and off but we borrowed an umbrella from the motel so it didn’t bother us too much.
Eventually, we came across the sign we were looking for.
We followed the orange TA markers through the adjacent suburb, until we reached the hut.
We knocked on the door and Anthony, one of the trail angels, took us around the back to see the hut! It did not disappoint. It looks just like the huts we’ve stayed at in the bush, complete with bunks, a rustic wooden table, and a log book to sign!
We chatted to Anthony for a while about the TA, the hut, and the conservation work he and his wife Fiona do in the area. He also gave us some reassurance and confidence about our upcoming week, when we will be heading into the Tararua mountain range. It was definitely a worthwhile stop for our rest day.
After that we headed back to the motel so Elliot could cook us a delicious dinner of rice, beans, and heaps of vegetables. Tomorrow we start walking again in earnest!