Te Araroa (day 55) - Methven to Manuka Hut / mile 1437
"Well, George, we knocked the bastard off." Edmund Hillary First day out of town with a heavy backpack and good miles on the clock. Alec as promised came to pick us up and shuttle back to trail at 7:30 am. I was up since 5:30, screeching birds and snoring neighbours did a good job of convincing me to get up. I had Campbell's Irish Stew, an apple and a black tea for breakfast. Packed the excess food (I definitely had too much) best I could and went to the campsite entrance to board the shuttle. There was seven of us going back to trail. Kiwi couple who gave me Alec's number yesterday, Craig, two German guys, Paul from Australia and myself. It took an hour drive along the gorgeous Rakaia braided river to reach the end of the bypass. I started hiking straight away but got lost soon after when the trail got a bit confusing and Craig and Paul managed to get ahead. Trail initially followed rocky bed of Glenrock stream. I caught up with Paul here and hiked most of this secti...