Yessss, delayed for one day and baked bread in Gisborne. In return I got great dinner and yummy pudding the next day. What else could you want: Both (Michelle and Dylan) are chefs.

Leaving Gisborne far too late on Tuesday I drove past some nice beaches (Ok, the sun's up but it's winter - I won't go swimming anyway), saw the 'Whale Rider Maori Village', walked along 660m-long Tolaga Bay wharf and climbed a bit of the Cooks Cove Walkway. Sun is just setting too early in winter and I wasn't keen on joining the sheep in the dark. Slept in Tokomaru Bay (or however that place is called).

The next day I wanted to make my way up to the most eastern point where there is a lighthouse. Actually I wanted to see the sunrise there and the day before see the sunrise from a mountain. But the sun set too fast so I didn't quite make it... Ok, so skip the mountain and go straight to the lighthouse - at least that was the plan. Buuuut... What happens if AnnA gets to spontaneous?! Well, she climbs a mountain instead of a lighthouse. And the difference is almost insignificant. ;) Forget the lighthouse I thought. When do you've got the chance to climb the tallest non-volcanic mountain of the North Island AND see the sunrise... AND do it all on your own. Because I was on my own, alone, in the wilderness. ;)
I bought a ticket for the hut and made my way to the car park. A 30km detour!! After I packed my backpack I saw the sign telling the energetic tramper about walking times. To the hut: 4 - 7 hours. Oooooops! This guy I got the hut ticket from said 3 hours. And to be honest regarding the time of sunset I only had about 3 hours left. Happens if you're traveling and have a tight schedule. =) So I took of...

-to be continued-