Way easier than Tongariro but still very long and had it’s challenging parts as well. This was 11 km and 6 hours. Had a 45 minute lunch break at a beach though. The waters were crystal clear, aqua blue which kinda implied warmth but it is very deceiving because it is ice cold!
The trail had parts that looked lush, just like in LotR and parts where it was recovering from a forest fire from a few years back. That made the area black, dark, and slightly ominous.
The views of the sandy plains, beaches and ocean were gorgeous. I think it’s kinda like Canada except all the parts are squished into a tiny island instead of so spread apart.
I tripped over tree roots and rocks about a dozen times twisting my ankle… What can you do? I want to look at the view, not stare at the ground!
Tramped the trail with Sara, the Swedish gal and a guy we met on the trail from our suttle bus, Sebastion, a German.
I think I’ve gotten my first light sunburn. My cheeks are red but I dobt there will be that peeling and pain and all that bad stuff. I applied sunscreen on twice that day but obviously the sun is harsher here because of the hole in the ozone.
I’ve got white stripes! Hands are darkest, then arms and shoulders and legs, then a stripe across the belly where my tankini doesn’t cover and then tankini tanlines.
Bertha