D41- Longveiw hut to Cattle Creek hut

Today should of been Longveiw to Stanfield hut but i fucked up the navigation. It's a clear day so i get in an early start. There's a bit of a breeze on the ridge but nothing too exciting. South from Longveiw there's a marked, well maintained track, through initially tussock, then thick leatherwood scrub.
After 3hrs i pass the junction to Makeretu on the east. A km later, Another junction to the east is marked Makeretu, assuming its the Apiti track i take it. Further on the ridge becomes untracked and its time to leave behind the range i faithfully followed sinse Shutes, i haven't crossed so much as a stream for the last 6 days. This track is more overgrown tho its followable, descending into beech, and finally podocarp forest, the first real trees I've seen for a while. It seems a lot steeper and overgrown then i remember, having walked this way 2 years ago. Somethings definitely not right when i hear running water and emerge at Makeretu hut. Absolutely livid, i wasted at least 2 hours on what was already a long day. Ive come down an old track not marked on the map, a simple gps check would of prevented the issue. A dutchman who ive met at both Howlets and Longveiw is already at the hut, despite having left later than me.
From here the best route to get back on track is to head up the Makeretu river. It would of been i nice walk, up an easy shingle bed, under the shade of giant beech and rimu. It would be a good spot for a dip, having not washed since the Ngaruroro, but after that mistake, I'll be having no such luxury. At the headwaters a track leads up a steep spur to the Apiti track. 500m west a sighn points to Cattle Creek hut 3.5hrs and im back where i should be.
Descent a spur to the south i end up in the Mangatewainui stream where the track stops. Without a map there's no further indication of the route to Cattle Creek. I head downsteam for 800m to the first side stream on the true right. The map shows a track heading up the spur downstream of the forks, but theres no sign or arrow. It turns out it passes through private land and is not maintained, tho there's no mention of that back at the new looking doc sign, understanding 3.5 hrs.
I climb to a flat section which once contained Birch Whare, theres no evidence of the track so i head blindly up the spur. Further up a ground trail is established and very occasional permalot markers appear, it followable, mostly, sort of. At the ridgeline it enters thick scrub and the going slows, the wind picks up again from nowhere. Eventually reach the turn off to Cattle creek, still in a self punishing mood im keen to carry on to Stanfield but its another 1.5 hrs and it already 7.30. Cattle creek hut is a detour from the main track, but i clearly like that sort of thing. Its a tidy 8 bunk hut with a tank and woodburner in a pretty average spot. Located on the far side of the creek, it sits by a hillside of thick scrub and dead trees, it gets less use than the other huts, being harder to get to. The winds really going for it, despite being in a sheltered valley, and the whole huts shaking.