Day 113 | Porirua to Ngaio
2 February 2023 | 25°C | 20km
As planned I leave all my stuff in my tent and head out with just some snacks and my water bottle. Slackpacking “backwards”.
A quick stop at a simple bakery/cafe down the road and I am on trail. I walk up the road, pass by a sports field where a class of the local school seems to have their sports lesson in the morning …. 20 minutes later I realize that I am walking into the wrong direction!
Though I headed into the direction of Ngaio (where I left off yesterday), the fact that the trail is winding its way around town puts me on the wrong track. The trail I should have taken started going uphill right behind the campsite. Damn!
So 20 minutes later I climb the stairs up towards Colonial Knob. It’s a bit windy and clouds up there do prevent views over the valley. There is sheep, rolling hills, wind, an occasional slight drizzle and a glimpse of sea in the distance, that’s how I imagine Ireland’s countryside. No great views of the surroundings, but it has something mystical & magical.
During the course of the afternoon I pass by a few locals walking their dogs or going for a day walk until suddenly …. I see a glimpse of Wellington again. I am a bit puzzled in the first place as I felt I was so far away already … but of course I am again on the SKYLINE walk and that is exactly what I should see …. 😅
After reaching Ngaio in the early afternoon, I head back to Porirua by train for a big Turkish falafel plate. Looking forward to moving further north again tomorrow!
