Well, we know that wishes don’t very often come true, and certainly not for me just at the moment! The chickens are fed and have been let out for the day. A quick “Hi!” to Hobo although (to tell the truth) I could have sat all day with him. I wandered out to collect pine cones this morning, most of the way down to the beach although not all the way. My head was full of thoughts but none of them made any sense. Thoughts, great brainstorming ideas and then, the chattering conversation one has with one’s self, when things aren’t going to plan! But I’m not going to bore you with all the details today. I’ll just have to suck it in and deal with it. After all, it’s not as if it’s a life or death situation.

I grabbed a huge bag of pine cones and carried it on my shoulders back to the cottage (similar to cross fit outdoor training) got some breakfast inside me, texted a couple of people to say I was turning off my phones for the day and headed out. The tide was way out, so no possibility of paddling till 3 or 4pm. Instead, I grabbed a download of a loop walk from the DOC website, drove towards Collingwood, grabbed some diesel and decided that Cuzzie needed to have some TLC (WOF and services) so I organised all of that. I was tempted to grab not only a coffee but also a peppermint tea and just sit at a table outside the cafe and feel a little miffed with myself. I did go to try and buy a supply of home-made chocolate but, would you believe it, the place was closed. Instead I drove to a sunny spot, parked up and sent some e-mails to keep things in some sort of order at home, it having been a while since I was last up north. Once I’d got all that sorted out, off I headed for a breath of fresh air.

Aorere Goldfields Track was a good climb up a nice track to view a couple of lovely caves. One, called the Ballroom Cave, was really huge and it’s said that miners used to dance inside! Once at the top, there’s a tranquil, calm dam with amazing views out over a 360 degree vantage point. I stood for a while, then as it was nearly downhill all the way, I tightened up my backpack and jogged down the track all the way back to Cuzzie. A very pleasant two and a half hours spent alone, exercising and clearing my head. I then remembered I needed to replenish one of my “must haves”, (my honey) so I grabbed the large "Heaphy Honey" jar and headed for the inlet for a late afternoon water and paddling fix that was quick but very beneficial, stopping en-route to fill up the jar.

Once back in Cuzzie, I sat with the heater on and finished off some more correspondence before going home to my farm cottage. The fire is now burning and everything’s okay with my day. Well, as okay as it can be on a day (or days) that still cause me to frown a lot.

My smiles today:
Finding another new walk, thanks to DOC.
Me and my motivation.
A pat on my back today for at least getting out and about.
Heaphy Honey. Yum!
I love running on trails. It’s such fun.

My thoughts today:
I am stronger because I have had to be, smarter because of my mistakes, happier because of the sadness I've known and now, wiser because of all that I've learned.

Goodnight from Red. Ma Te Wa.

PS: Big hugs to all who tell me and remind me they are jealous of my adventure and there is no real hurry to return to a normal life. It has not changed they say! They wish they where with me!! Thank-you!