Show Notes
At last Bruce finishes off the North Island section of Te Araroa Trail - but not without a close shave in the tops of the Tararuas.
Bruce Hopkins Trail Diary - Week 19, 10 February - 16 February 2018 Palmerston North - Wellington via the Tararua Tops "Sean McCarthy found my GoPro ... Sean brings it to me from Feilding, just astounding! "When I'm coming down out of the tops ... that's when it'll start crackin's up. Which'll be okay. I'll probably get drenched, but I'll be out of those exposed tops. "It's not even so much the rain, or even the potential snow at this time of year, but more the wind " Selfish! ... you're displaying qualities that kind of go against what you're doing . You know? You ... bl***y hell, pull your head in. "I've just emerged from the forest once again and into the tussock ... Mt Crawford that I climb tomorrow is looming ... "The forest is magical , the layers of moss and lichen ... the gnarly, gnarly trunks and branches ... Now I'm up on the peaks. ... I had no idea how vast these Tararua's were. "Whew. What took place this morning up there on Mt Crawford .... is going to take a while to sink in I think - how close I came to not being here anymore." Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
More from The Long Way Home
Bruce Hopkins is still hoping he'll meet Shania Twain. It's not looking likely.
Weddings and wading knee-deep in snow on the way to Wanaka... it's been a bit of a week for Bruce Hopkins.