After our day off and feeling refreshed we set off again. Into the Herekino Forest 
and along an old logging track passing some old logging huts very much in disrepair; we camped in the forest for the night at the bottom of the track and scrambled around the bush to find the stream where we could hear the water coming from and desperately needed for the night. That night it pissed down and we woke to find ourselves, well the tent anyway, floating in it. Getting up that day was a challenge, trying to keep our clothes dry whilst taking down the tent and not getting too cold; I would of taken a photo but at the time it really wasnt very funny!! The next challenge was getting up the hill, one step up and one slide back all the way; it did clear up in the afternoon though which was good, at last we can take the rain pants off (so much for thinking we'll take them as an extra, they have hardly been off us so far). Saw a wild pig and her little piglets today; was taking a photo then she starting running at us; you have never heard us make so much noise to make her go the other way - think we woke up the whole forest!
and along an old logging track passing some old logging huts very much in disrepair; we camped in the forest for the night at the bottom of the track and scrambled around the bush to find the stream where we could hear the water coming from and desperately needed for the night. That night it pissed down and we woke to find ourselves, well the tent anyway, floating in it. Getting up that day was a challenge, trying to keep our clothes dry whilst taking down the tent and not getting too cold; I would of taken a photo but at the time it really wasnt very funny!! The next challenge was getting up the hill, one step up and one slide back all the way; it did clear up in the afternoon though which was good, at last we can take the rain pants off (so much for thinking we'll take them as an extra, they have hardly been off us so far). Saw a wild pig and her little piglets today; was taking a photo then she starting running at us; you have never heard us make so much noise to make her go the other way - think we woke up the whole forest! Heading over the Mangamuka track was the next challenge; the track had not been cut going down the other side and because of all the rain and the trees that had inconsiderately fallen in what path there actually was it made for very very slow going, we kept falling into the mud - reckon on about 2km an hour if we were lucky? We also got momentarily lost and had the map, compass and GPS out for about an hour to find only what was right under our noses all along (a nice little orange track marker!) - we put it down to dehydration; all through the forest there wasnt one stream to be found, eventually we succumbed to a puddle of rain! Eventually upon exiting onto SH1 out of the Ratea Forest we then had a 9km walk in the still pissing down weather. Arrived at Mangamuka Marae about 6.30 and still 4km from town. Decided to take up the 3rd offer of a ride that day and jump on the back of a ute and into town to the only accommodation ' the Mangamuka Hotel'..... It was shut!! Luckily the guy who dropped us off is the cousin of Justin who put us up for the night in the old butchery (all related to each other in Mangamuka!). Very very basic but absolutely awesome to be somewhere dry!! He is running the Maori radio station from there, which was really funny and so modern in contrast to where we stayed for the night just next door with the concrete floor - everyone is so hospitable.
The next morning we had to hitch back to the Marae to start the track where we had left off before we could continue walking. Had fun today going through Puketi Forest with a Maori protest shutting the bridge; they are protesting against Juken Nissho and the mess they are 
making of the forest (their land). The guy was pretty nice to us though and did let us through after we explained we couldnt go the other way as there had been to much rain and the gorge would be too high to go through, he didnt like the idea of us passing but I think he liked the idea of us being drowned in the gorge even less. So after walking over the bridge and then missing our forestry road and having to go back for about 2km we were on our way to Kerikeri - our first real civilization for a while. Easy walking the next day through Waitangi Forest and out to Waitangi House where the Treaty was first signed in 1840 and then into Pahia but we were dragging our arses as feet now causing us issues and very much in need of a day off!!! - still having fun though (I think)!
making of the forest (their land). The guy was pretty nice to us though and did let us through after we explained we couldnt go the other way as there had been to much rain and the gorge would be too high to go through, he didnt like the idea of us passing but I think he liked the idea of us being drowned in the gorge even less. So after walking over the bridge and then missing our forestry road and having to go back for about 2km we were on our way to Kerikeri - our first real civilization for a while. Easy walking the next day through Waitangi Forest and out to Waitangi House where the Treaty was first signed in 1840 and then into Pahia but we were dragging our arses as feet now causing us issues and very much in need of a day off!!! - still having fun though (I think)!We are averaging about 20km a day so not bad going so far, some days are obviously quicker than others but if we try and keep to that we should be on target to finish in March.
TIPS: Always look at all possible routes for track markers. Know the difference between 'go past' and 'pass' when reading track notes and always check your compass and refer back to the GPS that you are not carrying for the fun of it!!!
Items Gained: Blisters - 4 - (each). Welts on foot - 1 (Johno), Faith in Humanity - thanks to all who have kindly tried to offer us rides even when we look like drowned rats (NB:we have refused these though)
Thanks: to Justin at Mangamuka for putting us up for the night
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