A crazy last minute idea from sister Lynda found us climbing Mt Te Aroha.

Our fitness had dwindled away over the winter months to be replaced by rolls of belly fat and wasting muscle. But still, that didn’t stop us from attempting to climb to the summit.

We started out quite fast, eager to get to the top. Five minutes in, my heart pounded and I thought I might faint.

“I’m going to stop and take lots of footage,” I said to Mike. Really, that was code speak for, I’m going to stop and take lots of rests.

Brother John, Nephew Quinn, and Sister Lynda had left us in their dust, striding their way to the top.

Many other day walkers overtook us, clearly thinking we would never make it. They were probably right.

About 45 minutes in, we made it to a viewpoint, where sister Lynda waited for us. The township of Te Aroha sprawled out below us, colourful roof tops dotting the Hauraki Plains. We munched on an egg sandwich whilst admiring the view.

“I’m not sure I’m going to make it to the top,” said Sister Lynda.

“Don’t worry, we don’t think we will either. I’m knackered already and we’re not even halfway!”

We decided to keep walking until we’d had enough.

Sister Lynda headed off, while we chatted to a few others that had stopped at the view point. None of them were continuing. This was the end of their day hike.

Mike and I headed off in silence. Without the other walkers around us, the bush was eerily silent, with only the occasional chirp of a bird.

I continued to take regular “camera shots” while we climbed our way up.

Then the path got steeper. I’ve found in the past that it is hard to slow yourself down, so I’ve learned a few tricks. I said to Mike. “Let’s walk for ten minutes and take a 30 second break.”

Thirty seconds later. “Scrap that. Let’s walk for 30 seconds and take a ten minute break.”

With our newly formed tactic, we struggled on.

A short while later we stumbled upon Lynda who was having a rest.

“I’m probably not going to go to the top,” she said.

“Don’t worry, nor are we. Why don’t we just walk until we’ve had enough?” I said.

Lynda agreed and we continued on, stopping to take many “camera shots.”

About two hours into the walk, we stopped for a decent sized lunch break. While we were sitting on a rock admiring the view, brother John texted to say that he and Quinn were at the top already. Wow, those two are machines!

We headed off again, still in an uphill direction. At this stage, nobody wanted to give up. Heck, we’d come this far, why would we?

I kept looking out for the tell-tale broadcasting tower but couldn’t see it, my frustration increasing not knowing how far we had to go.

We stopped again, but this time for a “Vlogging break.” I pulled out my GoPro and started rambling about something when Mike said, “Look in front of you.”

I turned, took two steps forward, and there in all its glory sitting proud upon the mountain was the Eiffel Towers ugly cousin.

Excitement bubbled out of my mouth. “That’s where we’re going Mike. Look! Look! That’s where we’re going. Look!”

“I know, I just told you that.”

From that point on we knew we would make it to the top. We scrambled over rocks, pulling ourselves up by tree roots, the occasional glimpse of the Hauraki Plains egging us on.

Then I stepped out of the bush and into a clearing, where the broadcasting tower loomed over me.

We’d made it and were rewarded with 360 degree views over the Hauraki Plains, Mt Ruapehu, and out to the ocean.

None of us wanted to scramble down the way we’d come up, so we decided to take the road route down. This was not a good idea.

Having seen that it was 1.5 hours back to the domain, we figured it would be a little longer via the road, maybe an extra 30 minutes?

After we’d been walking downhill for two hours, I wondered why we were still in the clouds. It seemed we still had a long way to go.

My calf muscles burned and my knee ached. I tried walking downhill backwards, but it was taking too long.

Jo: “Are we there yet?”

Mike: Silence. He was having his own personal battle behind me.

We caught up with sister Lynda and Quinn, and she said, “Do you want the good news or the bad news?’

“Gawd, we’re lost aren’t we!”

“No, that’s the good news. The bad news is there’s two more hours to go to get back to the Domain.”

“Arrrrgggghhhhh.” Actually, those weren’t my exact words, but we’re keeping this blog clean.

Had there been an option to call a cab, I definitely would have done it, but we pushed on, because we had to. I sang songs, something I always do when I’m struggling. That, and dreaming of an ice cold beer at the end.

But we made it. It took us seven hours, up and down, but we made it! And even though it was hard work, it was easier than some days we had on camino. Some of those days I was in so much agony I had to limp into camp. So, we must be fitter than we realised.

So, all in all, a great day out. Highly recommend it, but maybe come back down the same way.