Strawberry farm and big hugs all round - Joanna and Christine

 After a leisurely start to the day, Michelle Campbell arrived with her dog Yoffi and we all (including Ross) set off for Ambury Farm. We quickly discovered that dogs aren't allowed on the farm, so Michelle and I (Joanna) returned back the way we came leaving everyone else to continue through the farm and on to Strawberry fields for icecream.

I go tired of walking, and saw I'd already completed my 300 km so Michelle and I hailed an Uber to get there. Everyone else walked.  So I'm now 4 km shorter in walk length than everyone else, but still well over the 300 km mark. 

After icecreams all around, we returned to the house. Ross had kindly left the group early to pick up the van to bring us all home again. Then we had a lunch of salad sandwhices and muffins, said fond farewells and Bruce and I left with Sarah, leaving the rest to finish packing and return to Whangarei. 

Now I'm home surrounded by trees dripping with peaches and apples, and grapevines being ravished by the thrushes. Back to Work! 

 

                            The last day of our Pilgrimage - Christine

It was hard to realize that this was to be our last day together. The previous 3 and a half weeks of hard slog was nearly completed. Our aim of 300 kms was nearly reached. Our day’s task was only 6km. We were to hike to Ambury Farm and finish off at Strawberry Patch for an ice-cream.   

We meandered around the harbour and entered the Ambury Regional Park.  

 

The ice creams were an amazing size and tasted good!! We were tired but we had done it!!!! 300kms had been achieved. Over many different terrains we had slowly but successfully made our way south to Auckland’s shores. Some of the hills had seemed unsurpassable but step by step they had been conquered. 

Hope you have enjoyed reading our blog. This may be edited by the other members over the next few days. 


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