Out of Ratea! Hurray!

So we woke up this morning and listened to music as we packed up seeing as though the rain had subsided. This lifted us once again and we once again looked out to the day optimistically. Our plan was to try a track that wasn't actually the te araroa track but one that would hopefully release us from the jaws of this forest. Ironically, the track that we started on yesterday before turning around after realising our GPS position was no longer on the route we should be following. If it took us further into the forest at least we have a whole day to trek it and keep fingers crossed that it leads to a farmers field, a road, anything but more forest! Keeping a watchful eye on the GPS the track led us around the peak we were trying to go up and over last night and finally a clear view of fields and the way down opened up. A group hug was warranted and smiles from ear to ear, happy that ratea had released us.......now just demolished burgers and chips at a local dairy! That's the toughest parts over, more fun, less stress please!