Slow return to civilisation.

Day 24. The Bridge to Nowhere.

Johnson's Campground to Pipiriki
Daily total: 19km Running total: 1414.28km

One of the settlers plots.

The family names of the settlers stick out of the ground like headstones. These line the route. Popping up sparodically in this remote landscape. Sat there hoping for a road that never succeeded. Cycling the track you get a real sense of the isolation and remoteness as well as the lengths people go to get a fresh start. It is a beautiful journey but one underlined with sadness. Failed hopes and dreams lay scattered, a new life failed to transpire. 

Part of the proposed highway.

The Bridge to Nowhere and my meeting point for the next leg of the journey.

I sat on the bridge, reflecting on the journey to it. The silence. I met someone the other day who traveled up the river to the bridge and did not think much of it. The bridge itself is not an architectural gem but the toil people went through for the chance of a better life was apparent. Something you do not pick up on, coming in from the other side. You do not pass the multiple empty plots, the family names, the kilometers of nothing along a track that clings to the side of steep valleys. The place had made a mark on me.

As I sat in silence, voices start to become audible. Flashes of colour and movement appear from the other side. A person emerges 'Hay Gavin!' my lift had arrived. Along with a boat load of people. Then another boat load of people. The bridge was thronging with life. Although, I got a sense of disappointment from the boat parties. I think they expected so much more. They had a short trek to the bridge. They did not put the sweat and toil I did to reach this point. They saw just a bridge. I saw much more than just a bridge. 

When the bridge first opened, the far end just led to a rock face. Hence the name. The sudden influx of people was a return to reality. 

Reality

Climbing down things that I shouldn't climbing down.

The route to the bridge is frustrating in places as the suspension bridges are not designed for people with bikes laden with stuff. The track to the bridge is flanked by share drops in places and numerous bridges leading over mini valleys within valleys.

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Boo...wide load...

I part from the group to bomb it down hill to the boat landing point, trying not to mow down groups of kids along the way. This part of the trail can only be done by boat and if I am doing to do boat then it has to be a Powerboat! What better way to shatter the serenity of the area and the last few days? A twisted mixture of emotions.

Cheerio to peace, hello to Powerboat and handbrake turns Powerboat style.

The campsite hires out their kitchen equipment as people kept stealing the stuff they left out. So fair enough but I was not willing to pay $5 to cook a depressing meal of spaghetti and a can of tuna, so I harassed a family in a camper van for the use of their saucepan. The meal was as depressing as it sounds. Word of warning, there are no shops in Pipiriki. Turn up prepared with food or face a stark, overpriced selection of food from the camp shop.

Caught up with a Kiwi family on their travels. We swapped travel stories as they plied me with cups of tea and their stories of trekking around Nepal and India whilst in their mid-60s! There are more years a head of traveling left for me! 

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