There's a light drizzel in the morning so i get in an early pack up just as it starts to rain. Time to tackle the Tararua's. I've heard the Tararua's described as the Ruahines on steroids. Theres potentially the windiest spot in the country and being on the west coast they get a wee bit of rain. On an average year they receive 40 fine days, but none are forecast. Being close to a large population base they're one of the more visited wildernesses in the country, they frequently take lives.
Im expecting no water supply for the first leg so ive scavenging extra bottles from the roadside and refill them from the tank. Im dubious about the supply, expecting it's from the effluent rich Manawatu, but theres not much choice.
Continuing on gourge road i turn right up Hall block which climbs steeply, siddleing a valley head. Crossing a small stream, i dump the cow shit and refill. At the top it turns into north range road, it passes through the Tararua wind farm but with the weather i can bearly see the top of the turbines. There should be good veiws out to Palmy, but with the Manawatu weather they're only theoretical. The road becomes privately owned by the power company and legal access continues along a muddy 4wd track first on the west then the east before rejoining the road.
North range road finishes at the busy Pahiatua road which crosses the range. South range road continues on the far side. Further down the road, a sigh reads 'permit required', tho I've read at the other end it says 'keep to the track'. The land is PNCC owned and forms the catchment area for the city's water supply. Contamination and public health are stated as the reason for no entry, as notice beside warns of poison dropped in the area- good look ah.
South range road seems to go on forever through ex forestry scrub. As the road turns west a trap line marked H1 continues south. There not marked on my map but are briefly described in my route guides. Frequent checking of gps is required despite diminishing battery power. Knowledge is power- Power is knowledge.
It crosses a tributary then Otangane stream, i was hoping to find a campsite here but no such luck. I had no idear how far id get today, the result- ive covered miles but end up at 7.30 setting up in a saturated muddy forest. A matress of ferns helps keep me out of the water. I had pretty much decided a fire was out of the equation, tho through perseverance, probably luck and the superior burning quality of tawa i blaze is established. It would have to go down as the hardest fire ive ever lit, tho with a good fuel stack drying its not too bad. I had condemned the evening to one of cold oats and and an early night in wet clothes, instead I've got boiled rice and burnt socks
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