The ups and downs
A beautiful way to start the day! A swim in Lake Tikitapu. Couldn’t believe how warm it was! Renee and I swam out to the pontoon, did a few dives, (and a handstand on the pontoon!) and marvelled at how clear the water was. To top it all off we were given a free coffee from the coffee cart! Yayy!
Morning working at home then off to Rotorua for Whānau hui tomorrow. Worked in the Airbnb accommodation for a couple of hours before escaping for a walk around Tikitapu with Renée, followed by a quick dip. Found a place along the shoreline to do a handstand – another stunning backdrop. It was hot and humid but the smell of the forest is so refreshing. Plenty of birdsong and the cicadas were almost deafening.
The official photos came through from the Tikitapu trail run today. It has also been confirmed as 24.5km rather than the advertised 23km!
Here’s me, clean and dirty, at the start in the Redwoods and at the finish at Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake).
A big adventure today. 23km sliding through mud. Great fun. Unfortunately, no photos of me in action, just the beginning and the end! Stunning setting for the start though and a great send off with a legend to set the scene and a haka.

Preparing tonight for tomorrow’s adventure. Tikitapu 23km which it appears may well be 24.5km! 900m of ascent and 795m of descent with ‘ropes provided to assist as you traverse the ridge line above the lake’. Bring on the challenge!