The first impression I get on this side of the river is "scruffy".

but there are still beautiful moments to be had.

And then for the first time in days we are in kanuka country.

There's a very strange stile to get over

Put one in front, then put the other. Almost there.

Hallo, there's voices up ahead. Some people from the Outdoor Education Centre. It's a couple of teenage girls who reckon it's about 10 minutes to the end of the track. Fitman time, not fatman as it turns out.

The track begins to widen and we edge along the top of a bluff overlooking the Boyle River a long way below.

A van goes past on a four wheel drive track close by. I think that was the end of the walk as far as I was concerned. We were back in the big smoke.

No, not a tree stump.

We sign off in the Intentions Book. Looks like Manfred made it to his bus and there's no sign of Frank and Ray. We have a date for a roast dinner at the DB pub at Hanmer, so we'll catch up then and say goodbye. Great travelling companions.

Last as usual.

But we got there. Another triumph for metal hip joints and another thank you to Mr Hardy, my surgeon at Auckland Hospital Orthopaedic Department, for getting me this far.

And a thank you to Carol who has the car sorted and ready for us to go.

Postscript: This might just be a matter for the shadow-Minister of Political Correctness. I simply cannot see that the parking lot for the St James Walkway requires a disabled car park.

Cheers. Hope you enjoyed the walk.