Wainuiomata to Wellington Via Trail, and Matiu Island Ferry

Start of my hike at 7:10am

This was the one year anniversary of my husband's death. 

My friend dropped me off at Fern Gully track in Wainuiomata and, I hiked about 9 kilometers to Days Bay ferry.  I had to wait over an hour for the ferry to Matiu island.  I was stuck in the sun on the island for 2.5 hours but at least I saw parakeets there.  Next I took the ferry to to Wellington.

It was too windy to leave Bob's ashes on the island as I had planned, plus it was a quarantine island, bad vibes.  

 I put a vial of Bob’s ashes off the crowded ferry, had to be stealthy.  I felt like Bob was happy with that.  Saw abalone shell on island where I was thinking about spreading ashes, maybe a sign?  

I saw green parakeets  on Matiu island, they were not budgies, they were bigger with red on their heads.   Long day in the heat, very tired.  Did not cry at all, I’ve gone a bit numb I guess.  A bit dissociated at times I think.  Bob gone one year now. 

Met my love at the train, she bought a daypack there to use on the Tongariro alpine crossing .  She made a nice dinner with lentils, veg and mince.  A lovely dessert or “pudding” of  hot custard with passion fruit on top.  Very nice.

This day kicked my butt.  A long hike, suppressed grief and the super bright New Zealand sun.  I also did a lot of waiting around for the ferry and then for my friend to get off work so we could ride the train home together.  Also just navigating in a strange area and in a foreign country is tiring.  It is a just a little bit harder to do everything when you are not in your home country.

I better understand what it must have been like for my British spouse to live in the states.  He really coped well with being in a strange country.

My total for the day was about 6.5 miles with about 1,000 feet elevation gain.  

About 6.5 miles today but it felt like more.  I did not cry at all, I guess I'm dissociating a bit.  Grief is probably wearing me down even if I am not feeling it well.  About 1000 feet elevation gain

Matiu Island from the trail

Ferry to island and to Wellington

Dock at Matiu Island

Small lighthouse, everything is smaller here

Parakeet on Matiu island

Abalone Shell

A sea bird

Crowded ferry to Wellington, vial of Bob went off this but closer to the island

Pulling into Wellington

Disembarking in Wellington

Wellington

Christmas in July

People on the street

Tui at Waterloo train station

New daypack for my new love

My rough route on Matui Island, I went here at the wrong time of day it was too hot.
Also this might be fun for folks who don't get out into the real bush, but not so fun for me.
1 mile

Wainuiomata to Days Bay track in Imperial measurements 4 miles

Wainuiomata to Days Bay track in modern sensible metric measurements

Rough route from Ferry dock to Wellington Train Station 1 mile

Waterloo Train Station to Car 1/2 mile walk