We expect the south to be a new beast. The trail cuts through the spine of the South Island skirting to east of the Alps starting with the Richmond Ranges. The next 600km is remote, rugged and off grid. The route will pass through three small settlements; St Arnaud, Boyle village, and Arthurs pass before reaching the more major settlement at Lake Tekapo. At each location will pick up our pre organised food packages and then hunt for any potential cafes or dairies. Until then, our research suggests no phone signal so we suspect our communications will be limited. We are heading deeper onto the wild. The dangerously beautiful mountains are calling.
(P.S. The prolonged exposure to trail food may bore me to death before Lake Tekapo; pray that we find a Cafe). The Hobbit.
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I was asked by a stranger on the ferry a few days ago what my highlight would be from the North Island. Not an uncommon question and something we talk about whilst we walk. It's easy to pick out great moments; views, wildlife, weather, random experiences, friendships and unbelievable kindness from strangers. However this time the question got me thinking, possibly over thinking as I often do. This journey is often difficult to put into words, hence why we are so behind on the blog, and especially because neither of us are naturally gifted writers (thank god for spell check). Looking back on all the adventures from our previous 1,700 km of walking I realised just how far we had come, and not just the ridiculous distance. I hadn't realised just how far I had fallen, just how far I was away from the person I wanted to be. I did a good job of covering it all up and just keeping on, even convincing myself I was doing ok. Not till I had spent a while out of my comfort zone and past my breaking point did this realisation happen. To live out of a bag is a humbling process, to go back to basics (although some kit in my bag is far from basic). Perhaps it's having the time to think, walking can often be a little boring and although we have a good laugh hours can pass without a word being said. Thinking can be dangerous, but sometimes having a bit of time to delve deep is very beneficial. With all this babbling I guess I'm trying to say, without being too hippy about it, my highlight of the North Island has been gaining back a lot of the self confidence I had lost. I had only slept in my tent three times before flying out here and I had never been on a walk for more than two consecutive days, I now find myself a semi professional at pitching my tent and 1.7 million meters from where I started this walk. I also have some wiry facial hair and leathery feet to accompany this. Lows of the trip have been few and far between but getting sand everywhere and the severe lack of actually waterproof 'waterproofs' are definitely the two that come to mind. I guess if I were to try and sum it up I would say; tough, amazing, and hugely rewarding. Let's see what the rugged south has to offer.
The Turner - to be known by my new trail name of 'The BFG' from now on (new island, new name)! |
Blog updated until Day 93.
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