After discussing with Maila about the point of interest around this region, she advised me to go to Mount Hikurangi (Wiki). I will go tomorrow. I’m going to stay one night in a hut :-). Maila will bring me to the bottom before her work. She also recommended to visit the forest next to the city where we have a beautiful view from the top. That’s my plan for today 🙂
I’m not 100% sure but that’s the mountain I’m going to climb tomorrow. Maila said it takes generally 6h30 to reach the hut and 1h30 more to reach the summit.
She also confirmed that I was wrong about East Cape. The first place from where to see the sunrise is onto the top of Mount Hikurangi (Wiki) because it is the highest point of the region.
On the way to the forest
I asked Maila if I could ride here but she recommended to walk. When I see that track I feel totally fine, at least for now 🙂
It’s going up but it’s still possible to ride. Without my trailer I feel so light! My legs move by themselves 🙂
The atmosphere is a bit different here 🙂
Ah, the summit should not be far away I think.
That’s the east coast view! I’m in the field with goats and sheep. Naturally they got afraid and ran away… I didn’t have the time to take a picture.
Another goats’ gang is passing down to the hill front of me. They are escaping quickly since they saw me. The little black one is jumping down the hill.
I continued along the track to see the other side. I can see Ruatoria down there.
A little while later
Later in the afternoon, I repaired Ramaï’s bike. He had multiple punctures. I wanted to show Ramaï how to repair efficaciously an inner tube but he had fun playing cards with his sister. In fact, earlier today, I showed them how to play Corsican battle (Apple store), a card game that they could not stop laughing while playing :-).
Suddenly, three big shiny cars arrived and 10 or 15 people came out! Wow! What is going on here? 4 adults and kids everywhere. One man came towards me and approached his nose to mine until they touched. I didn’t know what to do because I was surprise. The Hongi (Wiki) is the way to say hello for Maoris. We touch nose together looking in the eyes if I understand well. Haha, next time, I will be ready 🙂
The family stayed about 20 minutes before heading to Hicks bay (Wiki) for a little holidays. They live in Gisborne (Wiki).
For dinner, Maila received a friends couple with their daughter. They are really cool and I had a good time. The food was so good :-). I ate too much. It is going to be difficult tomorrow to wake up at 5:30am to reach Mount Hikurangi (Wiki).
Names in Maori have a meaning. John explained to me how they chose the name of their last daughter: Ngawhetuoteatatu if I remember correctly. In Maoris legends, the mother is the earth and the father the sky. John comes from Rotorua (Wiki) and here, on the East coast of North island, he is considered like me as a stranger. He has 7 children with his wife and for the last one (I don’t know for the others) they decided to choose a Maori name that suits with their origins and the region where they live now. Here, the main tribe is called Ngāti Porou (Wiki) so, that’s why her name starts with “Nga”.
Ngawhetuoteatatu means “Stars of the morning”, a wonderful name! The last thing I remember: in order to find this name, they chose it before in English and then translated it in Maori because if they did it directly in Maori, it might not mean anything special. Phew! It’s very different than Europe!
A small lesson on Maori culture! Very interesting! You should have asked them what would be your name in Maori ! lol
I propose: “the crazy french who jump on icy mountains”, in Maori of course ! lol
They told me my Maori name but I don’t remember… I will ask again 🙂