Section 1: Cape Reinga - Ahipara, 100 km

Die ersti section vom te araroa het ganz im norde, am cape reinge agfange. Am morge früeh ischs in Auckland mitem bus losgange, bis uf Kaitaia. Und denn zäme mit 3 andere wanderer miteme shuttle bis as cape. Die erste 12km (mit de einzige 200 höhemeter vo dere section) hämer denn no am gliche obe gmacht. I bi denn öpe am 8i am twilight beach camp acho.

Die nöchste 4 täg (ca. 90km) ischs denn alles im ninety mile beach entlang gange. Es isch wunderschön gsi. Aber zwei 30km täg idr pralle sunne und mit nid vill abwächslig heis in sich gha. I ha mi unterhalte mit hörbüecher und podcasts lose, sprochnochrichte mache, i mine gedanke versinke und miteme holländische päärli gegesitig strand kunst mache (je nach däm wär vorus gange isch). Usserdäm hani d möwe beobachtet wie si muschle hei lo gheie vo so 5m höchi zumse ufbräche und vo zit zu zit ischme dur chlini bächli wo is meer gflosse si.

Die erste täg hani mi bitz lo stresse vo de andere wanderer wo super früeh und schnäll gluffe si. Aber das hani zum glück chöne loslo und i ha die zit mit mir und dr wildnis chöne gniesse.

Hörbüecher:
- "A Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control", Kathrin Morgan Schafler (Danke Vera füre Tipp!)
- Outlander Buech-Serie: "Drums of Autumn", Diana Cabaldon

Musig:
- "Australian Indie Mix" uf Spotify

Podcasts:
- "Alles klar Amerika?"
- "Beziehungskosmos"

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The first section of the Te Araroa started right up north at Cape Reinga. Early in the morning, I took a bus from Auckland to Kaitaia, and from there a shuttle to the cape together with three other hikers. We covered the first 12 km that same evening (including the only 200 meters of elevation gain in this whole section). I reached the Twilight Beach Camp at around 8 p.m.

The following four days were spent entirely walking along Ninety Mile Beach. It was stunningly beautiful. But two 30 km days in the blazing sun and with not much variety definitely had their challenges. I kept myself entertained by listening to audiobooks and podcasts, sending voice messages, drifting into my thoughts, and creating beach art together with a Dutch couple (depending on who was ahead). I also watched the seagulls drop shells from about five meters up to crack them open, and from time to time crossed small streams flowing into the ocean.

On the first days I let myself get a bit stressed by the other hikers who started very early and walked super fast. But thankfully I managed to let go of that pressure and simply enjoy the time with myself and the wilderness.Leggi altro