D55- Neil forks hut to Tutuwai hut

I wouldn't describe it as a cracker of a morning, however its not raining and ive got dry gear which is about as good as it gets. From the hut, the track briefly follows Neil creek before a 600m slog to cone ridge. Turning right i meander along the ridgeline untill Mt Cone which pops out just above the tree line. At the ironic spot height of 1080m, its my last Taruarua peak. There's a radio mast along with an engineer and idling chopper at the summit. The sun pops out very briefly, attempting to get some vital charge into my phone, i find the chargers faulty, without navigation i can't do the Rimutaka's.
Descending cone, i reach a cross roads and take the signed track to Cone hut, beside the Tauhereniukau river. Cone hut is a historic toatra slab design much like the ones built in Urewera, theres 4 bunks an open fire and a long walk to the river for water.
Its only an hour to Tutuwai, a track follows broad flats beside the river on the true left, through grassy terraces and podocarp forest. The river is unlike most in the Tararua's, being open and shingle, tho like most in the area its flow is more than its catchment size would suggest- cant think why.
Tutuwai is located on a terrace above the river. A large 20bunk with a woodburner and tank. Its classified as serviced, but what the service is is unclear, its not fuel or a saw to cut it with, possibly the locked wardens apartment. Its only 3.30 so ive got a bit of time to kill without moving on to the derilct Smith steam shelter. Its not really swimming weather, but i decide a wash is in order in case i have to go into houses tommorow at Merchant road to charge my phone. Hanging the charger above a candle for a while, im able to get some life out of it,  so suspect moisture ingress- it supposedly works underwater. It does need to be held in a certain position, so strapped to my pack wont work. Just as im about to celebrate the first full day without rain in the Tararua's, a light drizzel sets in.