Now we had to go down the 300 steps of the boardwalk. My hip and knee were soon complaining. When we got down them to the road, Peter suggested that he and Gaal and Zoe go ahead to look at the lava caves, and when I got to the turn-off I wait for them. That was fine with me. I hobbled down, a long way behind them, then sat down and ate my emergency rations and had another drink of water.

After 20 or 30 mins Peter came running out of the bush to get me started on the road down. He kept telling me to keep walking. I was walking as fast as my knee and hip would allow me. The girls soon caught up so I suggested he and Zoe go ahead to try to catch the 3.30 ferry while Gaal and I went at our speed. (Peter wanted to get to Devonport to make a phone call).

I found I was weaving a bit. Gaal kept suggesting I stop for a rest, but I said I would keep going as I might not be able to get up again if I sat down. After a while it was obvious we couldnt make the 3.30 ferry so I said I might stop for a rest. I turned to go to the side of the road and found myself flat on my back in the middle of the road. I struggled to take off my back pack, with Gaal helping, and when a man appeared I asked him if he could help her to get me to my feet. They took me to the slight bank at the side, where I sat down and had a big drink of water. I then lay back in the scrub to rest for a while.

Because the 'bank' on which I was sitting was only 3 or 4 inches high, I found I couldnt stand up, no matter which way I tried, but another man appeared and helped Gaal to get me on my feet.

We eventually made it to the wharf and had to wait over an hour for the next 5.30 ferry. As there was a cool breeze blowing I put on my parka to keep warm.

We boarded the ferry and as it set off an announcement was made that it was going straight to Auckland. We were asked how many wanted to go to Devonport. There were about a dozen of us. We were told that when we got to Auckland we would be first off the ferry and would have 3 mins. to get to Pier 1 for the ferry back to Devonport!

Luckily Gaal had made herself known to the man from the company who was leading us there, and she kept waving to him as I was so slow. In fact at one place there were 3 steps to go up and I didnt know if I could get up them! I managed it, and was the last one on the ferry, muttering about cruelty to dumb animals.

I was so glad to get back to Devonport and into Peter's vehicle for the drive home. I presume I was suffering from dehydration or heat exhaustion when I fell. It had certainly been a day to remember.

 

Top picture looking towards Islington Bay and across Motutapu to Waiheke Island. Bottom Picture looking towards Motutapu Island with Pohutukawa in the foreground.

 

Peter took this on his camera with his delayed time. Zoe, Peter, Gaal, Me.

 

Looking towards the Harbour Bridge.

 

Gaal, Peter and Zoe .  

 

2 views from the top. The first is of a freighter leaving, passing Takapuna, with the Sky City Tower in the background. The second is looking towards Mission Bay, with One Tree Hill on the skyline, centre.

                                                                                                                           
                   Looking down into the crater. The red flowers are on a Pohutukawa tree.                                               

After  a long hard slog up the 300 steps, with more people coming up behind us and lots going down, Gaal and I finally made it to the top, where Peter and Zoe had finished their lunch. Gaal and I sat down (my first sit since leaving the ferry) and ate our lunch and had some water to drink (which we carried up). We also applied more sunscreen. Peter and Zoe walked around the rim of the volcano while we did that.

We then took lots of photos before heading down.

Two views from the boardwalk. The top one is of the adjacent (joined by a causeway) Motutapu Island and the bottom one is of nearby Motuihe Island.

 

 

 

The top picture is of a lava field. The bottom picture is of the boardwalk. It is not as close as it looks as I zoomed in on it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After applying lots of sunscreen we set off up the road. It was not a steep climb at this stage. Peter and Zoe were looking at some of the old baches while Gaal and I plodded up the road, since we are slower than they are. We were passing through lots of lava fields. I zoomed in on the board walk as we were going up. (Photo later of the lava fields and the board walk).

P & Z soon passed us and we kept going, in hot sunshine with little shade. Many people were passing us. Eventually we reached the board walk going up to the top. According to the map it is a 20 min walk up the board walk. Huh!!! The map also says there are about 300 steps. I can well believe that. At least we were in shade.

There were several places with good views, so a good excuse to stop and take photos.

 

      This is one of the few remaining baches on the Island, in Islington Bay, just opposite the wharf.

RangitotoClimb2012

On 31 December 2012 I had the alarm set for 6.00 a.m. but woke at 5.00 so got up at 5.15.  My son Peter and his friend Gaal arrived at 7.15 and after unloading some of their camping stuff into my basement for safe-keeping we set off at 7.35.

We picked up Zoe in Papakura at 8.00 and drove through to Auckland and over the Harbour Bridge to Devonport where there is free all-day parking for ferry users. We had plenty of time to buy our ferry tickets for Rangitoto, before the ferry arrived to pick us up at 9.30. 

Due to the heavy swell the ferry didnt take us in to the Rangitoto wharf which is the usual starting point for the climb (also shorter and shadier) but took us to Islington Bay.