Te Araroa: a return to the sea

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The Blissful Hiker completes the "thru-canoe" section of the Te Araroa on the Whanganui River, and meets "Guardian" Trail Angels before she returns to the Tasman Sea.


In this episode:

1. Blissful and her paddle partner Andrew leave Hipango Park for one final day on the winding chocolate-colored Whanganui River toward the Holiday Park and a short walk to town.
2. On her own, Blissful heads to meet a trail angel named George who offers a room for the night. His partner Rob shares a whakatau, a Maori greeting. 
3. After a big Kiwi-style English braeakfast, George starts the trail with Blissful. It's road-walk all the way to Koitiata and there's no such thing as "share the road" in New Zealand.  
4. She picks up a lolly cake at Turakina Antiques and is invited by a trail angel for a snack and conversation before meeting the Tasman Sea again after 50 days of walking. 
5. The sunset is glorious and Blissful has it all to herself, but knows she is not entirely alone because people are looking out for her. 

MUSIC: Impresiones de la Puna by  Alberto Ginastera as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano

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