tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58184849584177791972024-02-08T07:49:50.029+13:00Te Araroa - Walking the South IslandWalking the South IslandSchulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-74251866139426110012020-03-08T19:50:00.000+13:002020-03-08T19:50:17.821+13:00Te Araroa - Walk the South Island<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
For those interested, I have made a movie using the breadcrumb trace from my GPS watch of my route up through the South Island, mixing in photos/videos. Could be useful if you want to get a feel for the terrain etc...<br />
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<a href="https://youtu.be/QetsfQP68p0" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/QetsfQP68p0</a></div>
Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-75632156194121232212019-02-23T23:41:00.001+13:002019-02-23T23:41:49.402+13:00Hiatus 8 - St Arnaud for 1 day <center><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVux1dchbQaRK9enHrUYx258_BFMP0S920EbqmgJ8iWZ5I2RDIOb8pm8dmUrAq6gUc7OCzhZFiOWsjlfB54e5MmDLUWDpizjVQWLBnMJdE12JoVTfKmxAxa5DHvVvk5X0pU2XTf8nrYE/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" width="320" height="81"></center><br><div>Staying up the hill a bit at my friend's place has been pretty idyllic. The rain was in today, so largely an inside day. Not that I minded. I had a brief outing to resupply for the Richmond Ranges - the last big push - 8 or so days in the bush.</div><div>A bit of a spanner tonight, with the only restaurant in town closed for the night. I couldn't bring myself to eat dehydrated while I was in town. Just as well is bought a bag of corn chips, aye. More quality quisine!</div><div><br></div><div>The forecast is good for tomorrow, so on the trail again. Should be beautiful. Should be hard going. Looking forward to it.... Kinda. </div>Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-2193348201200531722018-07-20T17:02:00.000+12:002018-07-20T17:02:11.738+12:00Come fly with me, come fly, let's fly away!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Some of you will know that I used a GPS watch to track every step of my Bluff to Marlborough Sounds walk.<br />
I've posted some pretty cool videos up on Youtube that use to allow you to fly along my whole route.<br />
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It's available in a playlist here:<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a34xgiAIxMw&list=PLBv8Wpa_S5RFhcOk60YKv7WolJQOKWley">Why walk the South Island, when you can fly?</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-87837093481657739132018-05-04T01:17:00.001+12:002018-07-07T20:48:10.854+12:00Epilogue <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's been 2 weeks since I finished walking. I'm melding back into normal life, so I figure it's time for a bit of a wash-up.<br />
I'd like to begin by thanking all those who helped me along the way, starting with all who read and posted on my blog or Facebook along the way. I kept the blog mainly for myself, so I'd have something to look back on my adventure in years to come. However it certainly helped with the motivation at the end of a long, tiring day knowing there were so many people enjoying the posts. Having started reading back over them, I apologize for the readability of many of them. I can only blame my phone, which likes to butcher nearly anything I write... and perhaps occasionally an end of day, frazzled brain.<br />
To Geoff Chapple for having the vision and the drive to get his baby off the ground and turned from a dream into a real life thing. One of the greatest living New Zealanders. <br />
To the Te Araroa Trust and all the hard work you do maintaining access ways and maintaining the trail infrastructure. You guys are awesome. <br />
To Barry and Jeanette for hooking me up with a satellite phone. It was a burden off my mind to send that text at the end of each day so Karen knew I was OK. Equally the occasional call home when I was really missing home, and the odd call to get weather/river updates before exposed sections or large river crossings made my walk much, much easier. Thankyou! <br />
To Jakob for faithfully updating my position from the sat phone to Facebook every day. You never missed a day! Great job! <br />
Thanks to Stephen and Eli for walking the 'Caleb' section between Te Anau and Queenstown with me. Walk on with hope in your heart, and you'll never walk alone. <br />
To Hamish, Janine, Saskia and Tarras for the wonderful surprise along the Greenstone Track, then putting up with us/me in your home, the pickup in Arrowtown, then the walk into Macetown. True trail angels! I hope your car is back to its former glory. <br />
My Aunty Colleen came grabbed me from Lake Middleton, giving me a night with luxury, pizza and beer in Twizel rather than a tent and a dehydrated meal, then delivered me back to the lake next day, before a ride home to surprise Jakob for his birthday. I don't have a favourite kid, but am I allowed to have a favourite aunty?<br />
Mum and dad were amazing, dropping me off to trail heads during the week after time off track when I was close to Canterbury, and walking parts of those first day's back on trail with me. While planning out the walk the logistics through Canterbury were rather daunting; you made them easy!<br />
To Andrew for letting me stay in your stunning holiday home in St Arnaud. I'm almost disappointed the weather didn't pack in for longer - I could have enjoyed those views for weeks.<br />
To the Pelorous Bridge Cafe/campground for putting me up in that cool little room so I didn't have to use my tent when the weather was so miserable. See you next summer... and probably every summer! <br />
To all the TA walkers I met along the way. Almost to a fault you couldn't hope to meet a more interesting, jovial, alive cross section of humanity. Especially to the Kiwozzi super(skinny)man Neil. I went into this fully expecting to walk the island on my own, but I have to say I really enjoyed walking more than half of it with you, almost certainly more than if I'd been solo for weeks on end. Look me up if you're ever looking for more adventures in this part of the world. <br />
And of course to Jakob and Elijah and especially Karen. Apart from the pickups/dropoffs, not only did you allow me to go do this hugely disruptive thing for our family, you actively encouraged and enabled me to do it. Without the buy-in from all three of you to do it I just couldn't have gone. Husbands and wives shouldn't ever owe each other anything - that's not the way to build a foundation for a stable, life long marriage. I realize that sounds a bit self serving given I've just spent the best part of 3 months away from home doing my own thing, but it's true for all that. Nevertheless at some level I will always be indebted to Karen for the way she has supported and encouraged me through this adventure.<br />
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I've fielded lots of questions about what my walking plans are for the future. In my mind this was the adventure of a life time, not to be repeated, at least not on the same scale. I will continue with my normal tramping of course. I was up Mt Thomas today, and this weekend Karen, Jakob and I are heading into Magdalen Hut on the St James Walkaway. We are also in the process of booking the Milford Track for later this year. It will be the first time I'll have been on the track with Karen, which is hard to believe given how much we both love Fiordland. <edit, it was fully booked out within a day, the Milford will have to wait until 2019>. In terms of longer walks, I have no immediate plans. I may do a longer one every year or two. The Dusky Track perhaps, walking on Stewart Island down to see Gog and Magog. Neil's got me interested in the Overland track across Tasmania. Doing the North Island, Te Araroa doesn't hold all that much appeal. It has a lot of road and farm walking. If I end up doing it, it won't be walking every step of the island like with the South Island. Instead I'd do with Karen riding shotgun in a support vehicle, using this to skip the sections I'm not interested in. Interestingly the idea has started germinating in my mind to do the South Island again, but to do it SOBO. Certainly a track always looks a lot different doing it the other way around. I guess this would hold true for an island as well. Nevertheless, as I say again I have no immediate plans to do anything quite like this again. Certainly I wouldn't feel the same sense of regret if I never accomplished any of these nascent plans that I would have had if I had never walked Te Araroa. <br />
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Lots of people have asked me since I got back what epiphanies I had along the way. I have to be honest, I haven't had much to tell them.<br />
However, for what value it is:<br />
God has blessed us with a beautiful country, and it's important not to take it for granted. It's not perfect, and it's incumbent on all of us to try to make it better - to at the very least do what we can to leave those parts we are passionate about in better nick than they are now. For me, I am passionate about our mountains and forests. The difference in bird life between a trapped, managed forest in this country and one that is not cannot be overstated. An unmanaged forest is uniformly near devoid of bird life. A managed forest, if not teeming, is usually at the least filled with bird song. The Predator Free 2050 initiative is a bold and visionary goal. Before I kick the bucket I would love to walk in forests filled with abundant bird life that is the rule, rather than the exception that it is now. Certainly I'll be looking at what I can do to support trapping programs close to home.<br />
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On a more personal level, the only real epiphany I had was in the first week, and was more a profound realization than anything particularly revolutionary. <br />
While I was away I didn't miss where I lived, or my house, or Rangiora, or my garden, or any of that. I missed my family, most especially Karen, Jakob and Elijah. I've always been a bit of a stick in the mud, a true believer of "home is where the heart is". I've always equated that home with where I live. For that reason I hate moving, and to watch the family home and neighbourhood where I grew up get pulled down after the earthquakes was a real gut punch. It felt as if a not insignificant part of my identity had been ripped away. Normally when I'm tramping I get a real hankering for food, to the point where on the last day I can hardly wait to get off trail so I can get a decent feed. I had a similar hankering on this trail, but it was for cellphone coverage so I could call Karen and just have a chat with her and hear her voice. Often on those days you could find me walking along with my phone in my hand, waiting for it to finally go to 0 bars, then (oh glory!), 1 bar where I might be able to connect a call or at the least send a text.<br />
You see, I'm still an absolute proponent of that saying. I still believe that home is indeed where the heart is. It's just that I now realise that my home is wherever my family is - not necessarily the house I happen to live in.<br />
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-82888700664017717512018-04-14T16:01:00.001+12:002018-07-07T13:11:55.849+12:00Day 64 - Furneaux Lodge to Ship Cove, 13km, 3 hours <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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With my boat not due at Ship Cove until 2:30 and a showery, cold day in prospect, I was in no rush to head away this morning, and enjoyed a lie in.<br />
Then it was on track for the final 1% of distance, and unfortunately 1% of climbing also. The first climb was a doddle, but the second, 240 steep meters up out of Resolution Bay was a different story. Nevertheless there were good views from the top out over Cook Strait with Kapiti and the North Island directly in front of me, as close as I've ever seen them from the South Island.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Kapiti Island can be seen low on the horizon, along with the Rimutakas further to the right</i></td></tr>
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A quick drop down the other side of the hill saw me at Ship Cove, 1300km and the finish!<br />
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It's a freezing cold day, but I still jumped off the jetty to finish my walk, and I'm now sitting around with 2 layers of merino and a puffer jacket on, trying to stay warm while waiting for the launch to arrive and take me back to Picton. Mission accomplished!<br />
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com5The Pines, Marlborough, New Zealand-41.094723 174.23445tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-36511259309528954592018-04-13T20:26:00.001+12:002018-07-07T13:08:16.624+12:00Week 9 summary <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Well, I'm almost there. A couple of hours walking tomorrow and I'm finished.<br />
6 days walking this week, with a zero day at Pelorous Bridge. 166km covered.<br />
I've finished off the Richmond's, traversed over to the Queen Charlotte Track, and polished off the Queen Charlotte in 2 days over this week.<br />
I'm ready to finish the trail and looking forward to spending time with Karen and the kids. To be honest I don't think I could go too much further without starting to break down. Perhaps the end of trail fever, and big kilometers that go with it, that has gripped me in the last week has something to do with this, but I've developed a fair few niggles that I suspect only rest will see right.<br />
This time tomorrow I'll be in Picton!</div>
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-87013886193331415462018-04-13T20:05:00.001+12:002018-07-07T13:07:09.187+12:00Day 63 - Portage to Furneaux Lodge, 30.2km, 7 hours 20 minutes <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrC34TWT4XgXym0E_MpgWm2IFpSWoOAUxGC03SQQh7z-QjvM3Q4nH-Uth7LZmprTzIR7lz6eMB_5VXK0ThpLZaWmTWHfuQig_MyRPe3xr5pjA_3JJ6Y0OC4VBuM7NA_0OozxZKUG3l_DA/s1600/20180413_084044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrC34TWT4XgXym0E_MpgWm2IFpSWoOAUxGC03SQQh7z-QjvM3Q4nH-Uth7LZmprTzIR7lz6eMB_5VXK0ThpLZaWmTWHfuQig_MyRPe3xr5pjA_3JJ6Y0OC4VBuM7NA_0OozxZKUG3l_DA/s400/20180413_084044.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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Another big day took me to within just 13km of the finish tomorrow.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtE-qhc626Ry78A7j362xR0wGX5FD5TaQ5zky4S1Xf0AzKpzhbOb3oLvw5q_8_OH72PahvfEw-L94AtEfUilSyCIJMK_SWpEsFHvQXA-Cuj8U2TPq1jFXrwYua5T0jhEmajKJoWdr-QA/s1600/20180413_071728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtE-qhc626Ry78A7j362xR0wGX5FD5TaQ5zky4S1Xf0AzKpzhbOb3oLvw5q_8_OH72PahvfEw-L94AtEfUilSyCIJMK_SWpEsFHvQXA-Cuj8U2TPq1jFXrwYua5T0jhEmajKJoWdr-QA/s200/20180413_071728.jpg" width="111" /></a>After my posh room last night, I was too Scottish/Dutch to lay down another $25 for a continental breakfast, so used my balcony to cook up some porridge.<br />
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Hitting the trail it was perfect walking weather for this time of year, sunny with no wind to cool things down, a welcome change now there is snow on the Richmond Ranges just to my south.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2M7VKlCDIrWQ8PB4N0rhLwFF5tA0PNC6rLgyO6NRSaONC3vapg1fhjvmIVQ8VGn0ssf5aeEDUcbJz4TtRUnoMzw1AKWGYZWiohPS3rAy4V6Ue6S3swVvvDbdUErEYKfd0rknAbosXNBA/s1600/20180413_113453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2M7VKlCDIrWQ8PB4N0rhLwFF5tA0PNC6rLgyO6NRSaONC3vapg1fhjvmIVQ8VGn0ssf5aeEDUcbJz4TtRUnoMzw1AKWGYZWiohPS3rAy4V6Ue6S3swVvvDbdUErEYKfd0rknAbosXNBA/s320/20180413_113453.jpg" width="320" /></a>There was a fair amount of up and down today, on a clay trail that was often extremely slippery. With my boots now pretty trashed - to say the least, there are numerous large holes in the stitching and very little tread remaining - I must have often looked more like an ice skater than a tramper.<br />
After some time I passed the head to Kenepuru Sound.<br />
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Working my way along Queen Charlotte Sound towards Endeavour Inlet I was treated to a fantastic view of the outer sound, with the North Island hazy on the horizon...<br />
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...with the inner sound also looking pretty good.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjGYoFF3-app9Uk06wbkyS20pST54OLrKHoayRZEZYzLp6L6Dugej1V374qwQC2_8cmhuoAB7FtlxUttVvA1dOlAXPpfr0s_wUJ8HCpvonZipv2Zr9b9NB764VmVk6qRlfIjX5zRhvfA/s1600/2018-04-13+12.08.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1600" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjGYoFF3-app9Uk06wbkyS20pST54OLrKHoayRZEZYzLp6L6Dugej1V374qwQC2_8cmhuoAB7FtlxUttVvA1dOlAXPpfr0s_wUJ8HCpvonZipv2Zr9b9NB764VmVk6qRlfIjX5zRhvfA/s200/2018-04-13+12.08.06.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNGhbU0YpKI2pcaC9Knn44u4_ld2RnuDkwKL-hSX4wSfdm_NmisUeA_yvQ0j8Uj7CmGRj9GdDe37J5YkSBeKoXtWOGsq-0Y8nd2E6y3McjX9CbzyvEb3821obuPHZ4PQuAiKrUSQMaNo/s1600/20180413_125433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNGhbU0YpKI2pcaC9Knn44u4_ld2RnuDkwKL-hSX4wSfdm_NmisUeA_yvQ0j8Uj7CmGRj9GdDe37J5YkSBeKoXtWOGsq-0Y8nd2E6y3McjX9CbzyvEb3821obuPHZ4PQuAiKrUSQMaNo/s200/20180413_125433.jpg" width="200" /></a>After a long day walking I made it to the head of Endeavour Inlet, famous as the place where Captain Cook stopped numerous times to rest up and replenish water.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73zvIYPHj6fg8sIPSwEdfKGuFsSCfW6lo08PVD8GCD8yapzqI_GFeHcZCpvfqRFbnslVCKMnSZpfC11SQH0a72OE9TJNoQga-9eKwlXEsVtiSKv__aj4GUKpHRS0xHsA_G0k-9iQZDeI/s1600/20180413_155823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="1600" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73zvIYPHj6fg8sIPSwEdfKGuFsSCfW6lo08PVD8GCD8yapzqI_GFeHcZCpvfqRFbnslVCKMnSZpfC11SQH0a72OE9TJNoQga-9eKwlXEsVtiSKv__aj4GUKpHRS0xHsA_G0k-9iQZDeI/s640/20180413_155823.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I finished the day with a swim in Endeavour Inlet. It wasn't too cold which I was surprised about given the time of year. Who knows, I might get in more than a perfunctory swim at trail end tomorrow at Ship Cove. I'm now now safely ensconced at the bar at Furneaux Lodge for my last evening on trail. It's Mexican night. Queue canned mariachi music and bad booze. It kind of reminds me of fantastic nights out in Chihuahua and Juarez listening to the real thing.<br />
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-55367820018833607522018-04-13T10:33:00.001+12:002018-07-07T12:59:40.802+12:00Day 62 - Havelock to Portage, 36.5km, 8 hours <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I've definitely got end of track fever. I'd been intending to just walk through to Anakiwa today, but ended up doing tomorrow's intended route through to Portage as well.<br />
The morning started with some unintended bush bashing uphill through blackberry. As I followed a coastal track, it faded to a driveway, leaving me 100 meters or so from the road. At least it warmed me up - it was a very cold morning. After an hour or so I bid farewell to the Pelorous Sound. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrvspbxQ89AZfJO8mjD_dWWibbQ5o-JxdgU_Wiai0CmsxXTH2RgQq3NUz8KdByB2fbLl9sz3qUMps0WKCSFP5hmRx8OzC1uLTVVPHPFWO2XzLVlWo4FyqYnYu_N4PvzSjPrH8wGKoPn0/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrvspbxQ89AZfJO8mjD_dWWibbQ5o-JxdgU_Wiai0CmsxXTH2RgQq3NUz8KdByB2fbLl9sz3qUMps0WKCSFP5hmRx8OzC1uLTVVPHPFWO2XzLVlWo4FyqYnYu_N4PvzSjPrH8wGKoPn0/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
Another hour of road bashing saw me through Linkwater to Anakiwa. It was interesting watching the Outdoor Pursuits Center in action, but it seemed silly to stop for the day after having only walked for 3 hours, so I farewelled my last piece of road for the trail and hit the Queen Charlotte Walkway. <br />
The first section, through to te Mahia Saddle, was a broad, flat and somewhat muddy highway of a track. The recent storm that I had sat out at Pelorous Bridge had taken a bit of a toll with numerous trees down across the track, but nothing particularly strenuous. <br />
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The walk along this side of Queen Charlotte Sound provided an interesting point of difference from the views I am used to along the Queen Charlotte Drive, on the other side of the sound. Opposite Momorangi Bay there was an extensive view along much of the Sound...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjvTQmqz0SL2o2FCVmQm4f6H_LcDg2eTytXiq3VdyMOFssl5KN5bGZLIPo0J3B7gXYTFf9ttN8pueNxwJZQsmFB-xUurQ7oxP966kXWgSCdnQcLQiVKIQA2gqhC-JvcmCAWx1489hsUQ/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjvTQmqz0SL2o2FCVmQm4f6H_LcDg2eTytXiq3VdyMOFssl5KN5bGZLIPo0J3B7gXYTFf9ttN8pueNxwJZQsmFB-xUurQ7oxP966kXWgSCdnQcLQiVKIQA2gqhC-JvcmCAWx1489hsUQ/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
...and an interesting angle of a ferry about to enter Picton Harbour.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPlfsni-9bUfHRi3g-XPTfDRrKyr1nxdIa0o2aAqssQ3fdgC8-aU2fXVGKpGRj0DjzP_oQjipVer70Flbk7KGcNdZTUmFD7pwEwkulb58pxn1xSmr-bwskvyvAf70hVu_62yX5YGN5Cw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPlfsni-9bUfHRi3g-XPTfDRrKyr1nxdIa0o2aAqssQ3fdgC8-aU2fXVGKpGRj0DjzP_oQjipVer70Flbk7KGcNdZTUmFD7pwEwkulb58pxn1xSmr-bwskvyvAf70hVu_62yX5YGN5Cw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I12cOGu3L7g/Ws_erJdYmvI/AAAAAAABfPY/emDr7zOY5AgUUSXmnkzRB6vimnoAWKO_ACHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I12cOGu3L7g/Ws_erJdYmvI/AAAAAAABfPY/emDr7zOY5AgUUSXmnkzRB6vimnoAWKO_ACHMYCw/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></a>Past here the track became marginally more difficult, with some small climbs. Where the terrain was steep extensive switchbacks were always provided to make things easy though. <br />
Verdant bush dropping to the water was the order of the day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gA2WfPsmcHM/Ws_eF9qilPI/AAAAAAABfPE/bl4vBFvXfUAf5tvUGTqgVDjWSiY-m_khACHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gA2WfPsmcHM/Ws_eF9qilPI/AAAAAAABfPE/bl4vBFvXfUAf5tvUGTqgVDjWSiY-m_khACHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Looking back along the ridge I had traversed - Kenepuru Sound center and right, Queen Charlotte Sound left</i></td></tr>
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Having climbed to a ridge I now dropped down towards Torea Saddle, enjoying views down to Kenepuru Sound on the left and Queen Charlotte Sound on the right.<br />
From Torea Saddle it was a 5 minute walk down to Portage Hotel where I'm going to lord it up for an evening - I got a free upgrade to a swanky room with private balcony.<br />
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0Portage, Marlborough, New Zealand-41.199165 174.03473tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-88454269260312217982018-04-12T07:57:00.001+12:002018-07-07T12:46:33.538+12:00Day 61 - Pelorous Bridge to Havelock, 21.1km, 4 hours 30 minutes <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As you can see, I've reached the sea, 1100+km after last having seen it.<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q5iw06jqGmI/Ws5ovIacY9I/AAAAAAABfLo/xwBS1Ak7Co0GEpZKYBNTD5GHh2NaXNa-wCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q5iw06jqGmI/Ws5ovIacY9I/AAAAAAABfLo/xwBS1Ak7Co0GEpZKYBNTD5GHh2NaXNa-wCHMYCw/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="200" /></a>That was the highlight of the day really. Apart from the first 15 minutes through the beautiful rimu clad forest of Pelorous Scenic Reserve, the rest of the day was either farm or road walking and not very exciting. I knew this going into the day - again I had walked this section shortly before starting the trail, as a warm up day.<br />
About half way through I went through the 1200km milestone...<br />
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... and my first view of the sea away in the distance was very exciting. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihV6H2EtltB4mvStT-hZoLOSmJQCn9_Nz7J3vRAd8bXgdpgxCL7CGqM4rOY9j03b_ekyVjLxrkGdAqs_h3nRXJqQpM_1f2GF-uzQza5awnO0t7h1DO63bkQOON3qLPL1-RJLjSK2W9xk/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihV6H2EtltB4mvStT-hZoLOSmJQCn9_Nz7J3vRAd8bXgdpgxCL7CGqM4rOY9j03b_ekyVjLxrkGdAqs_h3nRXJqQpM_1f2GF-uzQza5awnO0t7h1DO63bkQOON3qLPL1-RJLjSK2W9xk/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></a><br />
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Apart from that it was an uneventful day's walking. I have contented myself trying out a couple of Havelock restaurants - one for lunch and another for dinner. I'm feeling full!</div>
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0Havelock, New Zealand-41.274723 173.76277tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-41958196864984655842018-04-11T19:48:00.001+12:002018-07-07T12:08:57.772+12:00Day 60 - Pelorous Bridge, 0km<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgMprXLlwigmQrbgCY5aWut8pdHlppkL-oNgW5WK9Rl5nEJUQrksAGv-0VdrxF2QbRvjniP2cznntFrlPy4Gp2pwFPnN5wwBYoSbAIZlC9_0-dwAvi6iiYdxQzrODOIizhoDh4ZDcm6s/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgMprXLlwigmQrbgCY5aWut8pdHlppkL-oNgW5WK9Rl5nEJUQrksAGv-0VdrxF2QbRvjniP2cznntFrlPy4Gp2pwFPnN5wwBYoSbAIZlC9_0-dwAvi6iiYdxQzrODOIizhoDh4ZDcm6s/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></a><br />
I picked a good day for a zero day. The weather today has been atrocious, the worst since I started. Strong winds, very cold and heavy rain. The unholy trinity for hypothermia. Even if I hadn't been planning a zero today, I would have taken one.<br />
As it happens I'm perched literally 10 meters from the door of one of the best cafes in Marlborough. So I've hung out there like a bad smell... hopefully not too literally. The rest of the time I've been chilling out reading, charging stuff, and planning the final stint; the charge to Havelock, on to Anakiwa, then the Queen Charlotte Track. I've decided to be a bit of a softy about this last stint and target the places that have accommodation and food; Havelock, Anakiwa, Portage Hotel and Furneaux Lodge. This will leave me with 5 days left in total; 3 short days, a long day from Portage to Furneaux, then another short day to the end at Ship Cove. <br />
Sounds like a plan, I'm excited to finish! <br />
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OK, the lights here aren't working so I'm writing up my day here in the dark. Not so dissimilar from a hut really. Time to tuck into the Apple Strudel and Boysenberry Cheesecake I bought for dinner. It certainly makes a nice change from all that dehydrated!</div>
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com1Pelorus Bridge, Marlborough, New Zealand-41.29889 173.57083tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-59845364876530103552018-04-11T19:31:00.001+12:002018-07-07T12:06:20.936+12:00Day 59 - Rocks Hut to Pelorous Bridge, 29km, 7 hours 20 minutes <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I didn't start the day too well. Within a hundred meters I'd down an involuntary (of course!) somersault down a small bluff, landing on one of my walking sticks and bending it slightly. No other damage done, and the stick was re-straightened fairly easily. Some years ago I fell over a 3 meter bluff finding my way down into the Nina off the Lewis Tops via the Technical-Lucretia Saddle (not a route I'd recommend; it was very bluffy and dangerous). On that occasion I was extremely fortunate not to break my arm - my walking stick resembled a boomerang afterwards. <br />
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The first 90 minutes or so today were spent dropping down to the Pelorous River and Middy Hut. On the way down I disturbed a hind, fawn, and many goats (in total about 20 on track today). My first view of the river did not disappoint - a swingbridge over a fabulous swimming hole. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirql8FZgCqqq8MjHDBHKViwJmAV1ybLvw7fn2lwc6AH7LmWDTXHN3WEIt_cmFlv1Yg_-5nQ9EOwV0_CS1tQ_LnaW7nDqLmw7lOrlXO2ivHcqWiN0mwfhVLYNkDExurAeWguCiRYaPA9Jc/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirql8FZgCqqq8MjHDBHKViwJmAV1ybLvw7fn2lwc6AH7LmWDTXHN3WEIt_cmFlv1Yg_-5nQ9EOwV0_CS1tQ_LnaW7nDqLmw7lOrlXO2ivHcqWiN0mwfhVLYNkDExurAeWguCiRYaPA9Jc/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
It wasn't long before the trail recrossed to the true left on another spectacularly located footbridge.<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XaK34nAoU6g/Ws251pHdbHI/AAAAAAABe3c/8pvuV2dx4mYgPc97DCC1m9oM3N0_od7GgCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XaK34nAoU6g/Ws251pHdbHI/AAAAAAABe3c/8pvuV2dx4mYgPc97DCC1m9oM3N0_od7GgCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
Setting off downstream every couple of hundred meters another world class swimming hole would reveal itself on the river. Wanting to make progress I resisted most of them, but the particularly attractive and easy to access holes always had me in for a swim. I think I finished the day with 4 swims in the river. There was a particularly good spot 400 meters upstream from Captain Creek Hut. Alas I didn't stop at that particular one, but it was a match for any other hole on this world class swimming river - hundreds of meters long and 6+ meters deep with visibility straight to the bottom.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_h2hFUYcQdkQViWYwOtjDYj6qDh7950X9O2Y-uPXK2q2y-TBxrrjDRelCpr9f3usGFFpvKYt6BJYi-TR37kE4pQDrfs_fIX6fM8ws8auur7wuEGIFVndg6qZlSBaQ4cqduYVLWhOeEiE/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" />The track was mostly very easy going, with a few quite difficult bits thrown in. At one point I found myself pushing my pack ahead of me through a fallen tree that blocked the path. Generally though I made progress without requiring any concious thought over route or foot placement. Walking, as it were subconsciously, for much of the day I really noticed when I came to a more difficult section to negotiate. I could feel my subconscious cut out and throw control over to my conscious mind to make a decision on route or footing. It was most curious. Usually it would result in no noticeable change to my gait, but for the more difficult sections there would sometimes be a slight check in the step to arrange footing, and for the hardest sections a dead stop while options were contemplated. I have noticed a couple of times when two equally uncertain routes presented themselves of having a state of mental lock, unable to choose between either. When this happens I'll stand there like a statue for 5 or 6 seconds until taking a mental flip of the coin to decide which way to go.</div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wYM6BJFxGwc/Ws255YTelvI/AAAAAAABe3g/GAa0DeN1UsAZoF-NZy6GMOBpmt9dygUywCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wYM6BJFxGwc/Ws255YTelvI/AAAAAAABe3g/GAa0DeN1UsAZoF-NZy6GMOBpmt9dygUywCHMYCw/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></a>Towards the end of the Pelorous Track the route went up away from the river. I was disappointed to lose my beautiful river views, but pleased to reach the road end. From here I just had 14km of road walking ahead of me. From having walked the road as one of my last Te Araroa warm-ups late last year I knew it would take a little under 3 hours. Given it was already after lunch time it was touch and go if I was to get to the cafe in time! After a week on trail I can't emphasize enough how important it was to me to get to the cafe before closing - important enough that I eschewed at least a couple of easily accessible swimming holes! I Pulled into Pelorous Cafe at 3:30pm, half an hour before closing. Plenty of time to liberally order and chow down on just about one of everything! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6-llTHY3OUoa3WWvIVWGKCZKMM4E2wXTLDYyAOd1zkp6tKF_Ie8AaGIC8MADcBI49uK2lqgj41NTJ5vO0bwK-k9OdZ8YOk02HoJoIQUMetkDHShRdAQ1g0VLFfS76g_mSBZxmSHqK1k/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia6-llTHY3OUoa3WWvIVWGKCZKMM4E2wXTLDYyAOd1zkp6tKF_Ie8AaGIC8MADcBI49uK2lqgj41NTJ5vO0bwK-k9OdZ8YOk02HoJoIQUMetkDHShRdAQ1g0VLFfS76g_mSBZxmSHqK1k/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></a>This evening I've been put up on the floor of an old, disused TV room. I'm pleased to avoid having to use the tent tonight because the rain has started pouring harder than at any other point on track so far. Never mind - I'm having a zero day here tomorrow to rest, recuperate, shower, swim (hopefully, the Pelorous is known for prodigiously flooding rather easily) and eat! <br />
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0Pelorus Bridge, Marlborough, New Zealand-41.298054 173.57195tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-87841547217938224032018-04-11T17:49:00.001+12:002018-07-07T11:42:54.970+12:00Day 58 - Starveall Hut to Rocks Hut, 17.8km, 6 hours <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g6LlNyPPsjo/Ws2dClcNKvI/AAAAAAABe04/21heArnmDsoyGIvoQhj4oY1tsNphGE9hACHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g6LlNyPPsjo/Ws2dClcNKvI/AAAAAAABe04/21heArnmDsoyGIvoQhj4oY1tsNphGE9hACHMYCw/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="112" /></a>After a rainy night I awoke in my tent to a bitterly cold morning with a biting wind. So it was on with all my cold weather gear and on with the walking early.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0U6KojPSM5N6JqwhSEEwSaCTCJiIWSI8h2uul3iR7ocxe6edX3nyVDreBsEbOfmvGASJwc_q2EANMyi40x-VsEGt-lHJmbDCfkS0__0DN4QSHSmAYSs0YDEI4QbtvAC8XyTnhCEPg5g8/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0U6KojPSM5N6JqwhSEEwSaCTCJiIWSI8h2uul3iR7ocxe6edX3nyVDreBsEbOfmvGASJwc_q2EANMyi40x-VsEGt-lHJmbDCfkS0__0DN4QSHSmAYSs0YDEI4QbtvAC8XyTnhCEPg5g8/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></a><br />
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Bizarre then that 90 minutes later, having dropped over a thousand meters to Hacket Hut, that I should be having a swim. Quite apart from this being my 5th day without a wash and needing it, there was no wind and it was much warmer lower down. <br />
I was interested to see Hacket Hut. Last year, when I was in Nelson for work with my family, I brought them up this valley to within only 2 kilometers of the hut to see a very pretty waterfall and a very strange hill - a full river runs down its side yet runs over grass and does not cut out channels like you would expect a river to do. It's very strange. Hacket Stream, which runs past the hut, also has some fantastic swimming holes down closer to Nelson. <br />
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Having spent four days traversing north on the tops, the bush looked pretty exotic as I dropped down, the forest filled with silver ferns, much different to the Beech forest I had left behind in the Nelson Lakes. <br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JvUw653wxa4/Ws2fNTEuxfI/AAAAAAABe1g/p6r6sdrWiY0gXQ8QcLOZMzL1J_24OlCXwCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JvUw653wxa4/Ws2fNTEuxfI/AAAAAAABe1g/p6r6sdrWiY0gXQ8QcLOZMzL1J_24OlCXwCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
Not having looked at the map closely enough I was expecting an easy day of it, having finished with the Richmond mountains yesterday. The difficult 800 climb to and past Totara Saddle came as I little bit of a shock therefore. After so many climbing days I really didn't feel like any more. Fortunately my legs responded well enough one last time. Once over Totara Saddle I was in the Pelorous River catchment. I'll now be following my favourite river all the way to the sea! <br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Sj8_Bv6HVc0/Ws2gIBOubPI/AAAAAAABe1o/CnC_hWz8MrwQWu93uXb0sCoAy9zEybTRQCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Sj8_Bv6HVc0/Ws2gIBOubPI/AAAAAAABe1o/CnC_hWz8MrwQWu93uXb0sCoAy9zEybTRQCHMYCw/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></a><br />
The afternoon consisted of some fairly easy ridge walking, although the forest looked something like a tree graveyard in places. At some point a wind storm has decimated the bush along here. Parts of it were cleared, but there was a fair bit of trunk negotiation to be performed.<br />
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The track was also well and truly rooted, which made the going more difficult than the flattish topography might suggest.<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ydrPxYKg0mE/Ws2g-qQAMJI/AAAAAAABe10/Vx4-ZTF9kxATusyyc7C0bCEk0Y5UIc3cQCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ydrPxYKg0mE/Ws2g-qQAMJI/AAAAAAABe10/Vx4-ZTF9kxATusyyc7C0bCEk0Y5UIc3cQCHMYCw/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="180" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-79wwLQV8yko/Ws2h6IRAqXI/AAAAAAABe2A/oDyZ5OCdfOUme9Z4T2dlkO1BrJuQfPhGwCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-79wwLQV8yko/Ws2h6IRAqXI/AAAAAAABe2A/oDyZ5OCdfOUme9Z4T2dlkO1BrJuQfPhGwCHMYCw/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="180" /></a>So the sight of Rocks Hut mid afternoon was a sight for sore eyes. I was intending to get closer to the road by going an hour downhill to Middy Hut, but couldn't turn down what I've termed the Hamilton Hut of the north. I can give a hut no higher praise. It even trumps the Hilton in one respect; it has the almost unbelievable luxury of flush toilets! With this likely to be my last hut on trail I stopped to take advantage.<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lr9roS56raw/Ws2haS3P0TI/AAAAAAABe14/UPzfdyuAT0s05Wwgm47ur2InV0yl2BIuwCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lr9roS56raw/Ws2haS3P0TI/AAAAAAABe14/UPzfdyuAT0s05Wwgm47ur2InV0yl2BIuwCHMYCw/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="200" /></a>It was also a chance to dry out all my damp gear from the night before. <br />
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Tomorrow I have a choice of two routes. The first is a very historical gold route from Nelson over Maungatapu Saddle and past Murderers Rock, infamous in New Zealand as the spot where a band of brigands accosted and murdered a couple of prospectors and a shop keeper in the late 19th century (if memory serves they weren't too clever, started spending their ill gotten gains, were caught and hanged). I've already been this way though - Eli and I ran up to Murderers Rock a few years ago, so I think I'll stick to the normal TA trail so I can see more of the upper Pelorous River. In either case tomorrow ends with me at Pelorous Bridge. I hope I can make it while they still have the cafe open!</div>
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0Mount Richmond Forest Park, Marlborough, New Zealand-41.36722 173.355tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-30644459506247399972018-04-11T15:12:00.001+12:002018-07-07T11:35:14.529+12:00Day 57 - Mt Rintoul Hut to Starveall Hut, 17km, 7 hours 15 minutes <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Well that was a rather epic day. 5 mountains climbed and the most phenomenal views along the way. <br />
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The day started with a jaunt up Mt Rintoul. I was rather nervous about this - it's supposed to be very difficult and in parts extremely exposed.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpFFydw-JvoP7YgsMi3BUYo-P0WyobFtgDK7uxB_BO3MhUviwYcuR8ZjBLWDtWdEMNkHutLf6vIg5NgpZ9HjTHdYl3RjSeCuLRO9yIf9ciPawVUYFBKkNsERXKwNDRi4w8wV_uQGexCQ/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpFFydw-JvoP7YgsMi3BUYo-P0WyobFtgDK7uxB_BO3MhUviwYcuR8ZjBLWDtWdEMNkHutLf6vIg5NgpZ9HjTHdYl3RjSeCuLRO9yIf9ciPawVUYFBKkNsERXKwNDRi4w8wV_uQGexCQ/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyvOi1Y24lzpTlkA4_Jb7Tn42F6jU2wa_bT-812hCa03_o_S_ZEBDn-ol6E7PpwOCfeUEk86weK1XWsPy4tTsGLIpCYrYXJLT2QemuegTuX2tfJ8TgixErxJVW2sg14IYibf0LrRXLNA/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyvOi1Y24lzpTlkA4_Jb7Tn42F6jU2wa_bT-812hCa03_o_S_ZEBDn-ol6E7PpwOCfeUEk86weK1XWsPy4tTsGLIpCYrYXJLT2QemuegTuX2tfJ8TgixErxJVW2sg14IYibf0LrRXLNA/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="200" /></a>In practice I found it difficult and don't recall any undue exposure at all. Within an hour of leaving the hut I was at the summit. The views were probably the best on trail, with 360 degree views of mountains ranges - too many peaks to count. Queue lots of photos, although it was cold and windy, so I didn't hang around too long. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3Hm_UJ-EGeKolXVA274P_oQjUd9WEqhzvcQzw7iMXz2iBIhpjZCBX_WnKwrxOki3GAepUvNr0qQM-v35WKJJyxkHkmOlottfKfNtYlw7x7iK9CjtRcNcJAxy0MdtHgFMXGMbH8xWhIc/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3Hm_UJ-EGeKolXVA274P_oQjUd9WEqhzvcQzw7iMXz2iBIhpjZCBX_WnKwrxOki3GAepUvNr0qQM-v35WKJJyxkHkmOlottfKfNtYlw7x7iK9CjtRcNcJAxy0MdtHgFMXGMbH8xWhIc/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="cursor: move; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4o86lR3KrDj97qyOvgesuqOx0cdYLYOMZBDwPkZrh8zher6M7PiutZVlyC0E-7sCS-Gzooi0oQDcD_TTh-pNAtBJlKP1SKPqdlpkDD9lXdz6i8Hmo9iDQ_J9Tfs63rIN1fkQzWemkXWw/s1600/2018-04-07+09.34.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4o86lR3KrDj97qyOvgesuqOx0cdYLYOMZBDwPkZrh8zher6M7PiutZVlyC0E-7sCS-Gzooi0oQDcD_TTh-pNAtBJlKP1SKPqdlpkDD9lXdz6i8Hmo9iDQ_J9Tfs63rIN1fkQzWemkXWw/s200/2018-04-07+09.34.08.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><br />
Then down to the bush line, but in little more than an hour I was back up on top of its not so smaller sister, Little Mount Rintoul. More photos of prodigious views in all directions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOw9S0Vl3I9fhqqf9emqbir0osargRFdY5bimJ0CQj6xGw7AbewiFDZU99IIWS4blhWnX6A0kYMXAciRmf34bPEuJGtjj3TqdH0bSJE1iu_UKvBPXpgaNuUmCJlIEeKZ6SaFcy81rN_o/s1600/2018-04-07+08.22.26_crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1600" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOw9S0Vl3I9fhqqf9emqbir0osargRFdY5bimJ0CQj6xGw7AbewiFDZU99IIWS4blhWnX6A0kYMXAciRmf34bPEuJGtjj3TqdH0bSJE1iu_UKvBPXpgaNuUmCJlIEeKZ6SaFcy81rN_o/s320/2018-04-07+08.22.26_crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-ZvgFuIBWacdPBEJK7vxOabXjnHZq3yjL0uNEswMJWsBcZREGeH4I3dzRSFSlV4LuMRgBx2Z2lvtNk6tKWqc13bqiLmRAYjA0jQaQpbn7j2imTDyyKCon9rmOu0i480_XhnZd76mCqI/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-ZvgFuIBWacdPBEJK7vxOabXjnHZq3yjL0uNEswMJWsBcZREGeH4I3dzRSFSlV4LuMRgBx2Z2lvtNk6tKWqc13bqiLmRAYjA0jQaQpbn7j2imTDyyKCon9rmOu0i480_XhnZd76mCqI/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="112" /></a>Then up and down along a ridge until reaching my third peak for the day, Old Man, followed by more ridge climbing, over an unnamed peak, then skirting just under the top of Slaty Peak for lunch and a longish rest at Slaty Hut.<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3Xz1YtC_OAA/Ws185MPwZfI/AAAAAAABerE/3TntqUntzPoESfyLxpKYIfY8ELK3pAYcQCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3Xz1YtC_OAA/Ws185MPwZfI/AAAAAAABerE/3TntqUntzPoESfyLxpKYIfY8ELK3pAYcQCHMYCw/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="200" /></a><br />
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One more mountain to climb for the day, Mt Starveall, very close to Nelson.<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3ygcxYDGc_c/Ws187_lkpsI/AAAAAAABerU/QbCS8u6s2YwcSqY1EfFMIagcu7dBK3_RACHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3ygcxYDGc_c/Ws187_lkpsI/AAAAAAABerU/QbCS8u6s2YwcSqY1EfFMIagcu7dBK3_RACHMYCw/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="200" /></a><br />
Then down to Starveall Hut. Being the weekend and close to Nelson, the hut is full to overflowing, so I'm out the front in my tent. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVQ8Il9AWfu7WiXrmvx7kjVCqLDq5HYDiq1ng8BFVocuVBqE7HfmTtQUNPzh55wPHSxLENmtJQRNj4SR-lJXkSybWJjDBACrHOBFKJJYQfcA09UEkSkE0eWYP4Uh_VWWs-NrSDWW1U1g/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVQ8Il9AWfu7WiXrmvx7kjVCqLDq5HYDiq1ng8BFVocuVBqE7HfmTtQUNPzh55wPHSxLENmtJQRNj4SR-lJXkSybWJjDBACrHOBFKJJYQfcA09UEkSkE0eWYP4Uh_VWWs-NrSDWW1U1g/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="200" /></a></div>
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0Mount Richmond Forest Park, Marlborough, New Zealand-41.45778 173.2411tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-53553616575586782262018-04-11T15:07:00.001+12:002018-04-11T15:07:06.158+12:00Week 8 summary <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>A full 7 days walking, with 1 day off trail in St Arnaud not counted. 124km walked.<br/>
The start of this week saw me about to go over Waiau Pass. Since then I've also done Travers - Sabine and half the Richmond Ranges, so I'm pretty confident this is my biggest climbing week. <br/>
I'm coming to the end, there isn't much more than another week's walking left to the finish.</div>Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-1652727131101229822018-04-11T14:58:00.001+12:002018-07-07T11:18:14.645+12:00Day 56 - Upper Wairoa Hut to Mt Rintoul Hut, 22 km, 8 hours 30 minutes <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A big day! Another 2000 meter climb day all up, and I was pretty done in at the end of it.<br />
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Within a couple of kilometres of starting, I passed the 1100km milestone - only 2 milestones left! <br />
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The first couple of hours were spent following the Wairoa River down to Mid Wairoa Hut. Generally speaking it was easy going, interspersed with sections of very dodgy terrain - the kind of track you want to maintain concentration on. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXlJWT6So4MYMHVK9NDA86yUpCw1nU5P1IiumRuPi8Q2OMxxBsiV5iGIf2Xxx8Kox-nBsLZoIz_dFZCYr3lesD4yJO1VxXbe09MIKOWvZJniGZrvsfA6uPXg0ykHiI0O1aCGaAlo_Rf8/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXlJWT6So4MYMHVK9NDA86yUpCw1nU5P1IiumRuPi8Q2OMxxBsiV5iGIf2Xxx8Kox-nBsLZoIz_dFZCYr3lesD4yJO1VxXbe09MIKOWvZJniGZrvsfA6uPXg0ykHiI0O1aCGaAlo_Rf8/s400/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a>Then started a hard climb up a long ridgeline to Tarn Hut. The hut itself was 100 vertical meters down off the track. I'd heard the tarn was good for swimming in so I dumped pack on the track and headed down to the hut. However the tarn, being in the bush, was very tanniny and I wasn't tempted - I prefer to see what I'm swimming in! Still after a fair few hours on a water-less ridge I needed my water bottles replenished, so that was something.<br />
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Anyone who has had a long day's tramping with a heavy pack will know that feeling when you take it off - you feel so light you might fly. After I regained the ridge and my pack climbing up from the tarn I experienced the opposite affect. Donning my pack it felt about 10kg heavier, to the point I suspected some passerby had loaded me up with rocks. Not a pleasant sensation!<br />
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Carrying on some fantastic views opened out of Tasman Bay. <br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pzVZwlLulLw/Ws15r0MgUYI/AAAAAAABelM/c9WQh1DrLZkD9eEEV7XL5iL-JLVPVdbqgCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pzVZwlLulLw/Ws15r0MgUYI/AAAAAAABelM/c9WQh1DrLZkD9eEEV7XL5iL-JLVPVdbqgCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
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After a beautiful sunset over Nelson and Tasman Bay, I'm now enjoying Nelson's lights as I write this. It's bizarre that I'm so close to the city, but on a difficult, alpine track, about to climb the highest peak in the Richmond's. <br />
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0Mount Richmond Forest Park, Marlborough, New Zealand-41.519165 173.22028tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-22610349574780189992018-04-11T14:54:00.001+12:002018-07-07T10:55:20.593+12:00Day 55 Porters Creek Hut to Upper Wairoa Hut, 16.4km, 6 hours 10 minutes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A second day in the Richmond Ranges. My target was to try to do a big day and get to Middle Wairoa Hut. According to my trail notes this was a 12 hour haul although I typically knock a fair bit off those times. As it turned out, a sore knee and marginal timing now that daylight hours are shortening saw me pull the pin after 7 hours. <br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2r8rjHKVzHU/Ws14lPHtGaI/AAAAAAABejQ/u_jJgP2z8NoQaRigLMxPeAM5cVHfsvGXQCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2r8rjHKVzHU/Ws14lPHtGaI/AAAAAAABejQ/u_jJgP2z8NoQaRigLMxPeAM5cVHfsvGXQCHMYCw/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></a><br />
It was another day on very Australian terrain. <br />
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It required some care on footing, the rocks were sharp and could really mess you up if you tripped on them. <br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7qUWzUx9ZGs/Ws14sx42WRI/AAAAAAABejg/IxQ3CHgNh18LH5hNHtOrFCqw9Oyal5muQCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7qUWzUx9ZGs/Ws14sx42WRI/AAAAAAABejg/IxQ3CHgNh18LH5hNHtOrFCqw9Oyal5muQCHMYCw/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="180" /></a><br />
The morning saw me heading up valley towards Mt Ellis. The first few hours was easy going to Hunters Hut, with just a few sharpish ups and downs to remind me I was in the Richmond's. Near the hut I surprised a goat on track, or rather we surprised each other. Even if I hadn't seen him, I'd have definitely smelt him on the way past! <br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HJpRJ6i3tHM/Ws14xIO1DEI/AAAAAAABejw/u8K7lj0Bx-UKAEyfQOcchQbXkl8A9TRFwCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HJpRJ6i3tHM/Ws14xIO1DEI/AAAAAAABejw/u8K7lj0Bx-UKAEyfQOcchQbXkl8A9TRFwCHMYCw/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sWoeNnWfpjg/Ws140CzlypI/AAAAAAABej4/XM-fDExyOLc2wA1SKoWYuglWpgh2QBDkACHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sWoeNnWfpjg/Ws140CzlypI/AAAAAAABej4/XM-fDExyOLc2wA1SKoWYuglWpgh2QBDkACHMYCw/s400/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a>It was a bit of a long climb, although not very steep - a haul rather than a grunt. Near the top, excitement! Tasman Bay, seemingly just down a couple of ridge lines - my first view of the sea for over a thousand kilometers, and a tangible pointer that the end is nearing.<br />
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Then down to the hut. It's nicely nestled in the bush. I like the old Forest Service orange that DOC have painted the huts through here - a nice nod to the past. <br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U33gQH79DBQ/Ws146b1am0I/AAAAAAABekA/j10ziM81uP4xZdFADQpV0IoxReDF4boJwCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U33gQH79DBQ/Ws146b1am0I/AAAAAAABekA/j10ziM81uP4xZdFADQpV0IoxReDF4boJwCHMYCw/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></a><br />
It looks like I'll have the hut to myself again tonight - I'm loving liberally spreading my stuff around the hut. <br />
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I may try a bigger day tomorrow instead - if not I will need to have a very short day the day after. There is a difficult and exposed climb coming up over Mt Rintoul that I want to tackle fresh in the morning, which is dictating somewhat which huts I want to use; Mt Rintoul Hut is immediately before this climb.</div>
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0Mount Richmond Forest Park, Marlborough, New Zealand-41.609722 173.0711tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-21080877248825557272018-04-07T15:46:00.001+12:002018-06-27T16:27:36.169+12:00Day 54 - St Arnaud to Porters Creek Hut, 27.7km, 7 hours <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today I started my journey through the Richmond Ranges. After stopping for breakfast in St Arnaud I headed up the road towards the Red Hills, the entry point to the Richmond's.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkXpTPV_D9Mz_6kEzMkMP1uMbYp6hyphenhyphenYHrGnMMRNxy8s6JF-ZkmHR5MWDRx5WLYGRYmbG03Ar5WNgpeo7CvJVQWftC37BpimxzWBjVDV7mX_jrHkl6TBs0-nJ8vPKGe9RpYN6wXaR2cgY/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkXpTPV_D9Mz_6kEzMkMP1uMbYp6hyphenhyphenYHrGnMMRNxy8s6JF-ZkmHR5MWDRx5WLYGRYmbG03Ar5WNgpeo7CvJVQWftC37BpimxzWBjVDV7mX_jrHkl6TBs0-nJ8vPKGe9RpYN6wXaR2cgY/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="200" /></a><br />
After 11km of road bashing I was into the Red Hills. <br />
The first section, up to Red Hills Hut, was nice and easy, 5 or so 6 easy kilometres. <br />
The real Richmond's started after the hut, with another 11km of walking to Porters Creek Hut. The track, like the geography it followed, was up and down and all over the place. Something I suspect I might have to become used to over the next few days. There were labyrinthine valleys and ridges heading off in all directions. It'd be very easy to get lost in here. It made for hard going, negotiating deeply incised side streams, and occasionally traversing or crossing ridge lines. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2YxdiryjnspUOhC0i8w065rze5U-P1eqiSXSMCWSQPHrXqnXuAbMMKU1ztGmqCleAHIxyhfwlzPViDrKCllPjJTMR6XO933wpEUQub5DQhgCwGmwbDKKjVVAUyZBnomOkOy17sz_9EE/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2YxdiryjnspUOhC0i8w065rze5U-P1eqiSXSMCWSQPHrXqnXuAbMMKU1ztGmqCleAHIxyhfwlzPViDrKCllPjJTMR6XO933wpEUQub5DQhgCwGmwbDKKjVVAUyZBnomOkOy17sz_9EE/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></a>I've been really looking forward to coming through the Red Hills - I've intended to go tramping in here for many years but never got around to it. It's a fascinating place. Almost uniquely in New Zealand, the soil is extremely high in iron and other more exotic minerals, such that the bush is stunted like what you get just above the bushline. Certainly I haven't travelled anywhere remotely similar to this in New Zealand. Actually it's rather Australia-esque, especially with the reddish soil and rock. I found it weird to traverse from one hill to the next, in the process moving from thick beech to stunted bush, like my altitude had changed by a thousand meters within a few steps. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCy9x17a6aAegpdVjNXzlzs8xejulKf8nRoHwl0CD3scFS3gDAksW6QO43zNVHtg9_-ehv1eYasB9PA-BGgrQrgSSVE2qsySYSvN-U9Wk8zxQZFL6U3NHAcEH_hJV1kgZeCwaiLTOj3c/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCy9x17a6aAegpdVjNXzlzs8xejulKf8nRoHwl0CD3scFS3gDAksW6QO43zNVHtg9_-ehv1eYasB9PA-BGgrQrgSSVE2qsySYSvN-U9Wk8zxQZFL6U3NHAcEH_hJV1kgZeCwaiLTOj3c/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
I say it's almost unique to New Zealand, because there is a red mountain down in Fiordland, identical to this Marlborough area. This is no coincidence of course. While they started in the same range, the two areas are on opposite sides of the Alpine fault. Through fault shearing, aka earthquakes, this area has been shunted 1000km north of where it started. <br />
So to the hut. I was hoping for a sunset to illuminate the iron coloured hillsides in red. I got a sunset alright, but it didn't light up the hills for me. Oh well, I still got some decent photos. <br />
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Random fact, I'm now in the Motueka River catchment. Man, big catchment, no wonder that river floods so badly. Anyway, the Motueka River runs to the north coast! Another portent of the end (in a good rather than apocalyptic way!).</div>
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com1Mount Richmond Forest Park, Marlborough, New Zealand-41.65333 172.99695tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-63494107312867096892018-04-03T21:03:00.001+12:002018-06-27T12:54:44.731+12:00Hiatus 8 - St Arnaud for 1 day <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Staying up the hill a bit at my friend's place has been pretty idyllic. The rain was in today, so largely an inside day. Not that I minded. I had a brief outing to resupply for the Richmond Ranges - the last big push - 8 or so days in the bush.<br />
A bit of a spanner tonight, with the only restaurant in town closed for the night. I couldn't bring myself to eat dehydrated while I was in town. Just as well I'd bought a bag of corn chips. More quality cuisine!<br />
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The forecast is good for tomorrow, so on the trail again. Should be beautiful. Should be hard going. Looking forward to it.... Kinda.</div>
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0Saint Arnaud, Tasman, New Zealand-41.79889 172.84723tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-83423119196959438492018-04-03T20:41:00.001+12:002018-06-27T12:53:34.255+12:00Day 53 - John Tait Hut to St Arnaud, 23.5km, 5 hours 30 minutes <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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An easy day down the Travers Valley to and then along the side of the beautiful Lake Rotoiti.<br />
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The day started with an excellent sunrise - the first I've had for a while. I haven't been up early enough to see many, but with car fever kicking in I was keen to get to St Arnaud ASAP. I'd better describe what car fever is. When tramping towards the end of a day it's common to get hut fever - a finite burst of energy when you think the hut is close. It can be devastating when it turns out the hut is further away than you thought. Anyway car fever is just a subset of that - when you are getting near the end a tramp and are looking forward to getting back to the car. In my case there is no car of course, but I've been really looking forward to getting back into cell coverage so I can phone home, and that's been driving me on for a few days. Long story short, I was on track early! <br />
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I was down valley pretty quickly and stopped at Lakehead Hut for an early lunch. I've always been a bit meh about this hut. There is nothing wrong with it per se, but one of the one of the most beautiful lakes in the country is about 500 meters away, which is enough that it's a pain to go for a swim. What's more, it has one of my favourite huts barely a kilometer away across the river. That hut, Coldwater Hut has it's own jetty, and being constructed from stone is a beautiful hut, if somewhat bastardised by recently having had its porch filled in. It's also aptly named, the Travis River which flows into Lake Rotoiti here is MUCH colder than the rest of the lake. But anyway, I wasn't stopping at Lakehead for anything more than a snack.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSYu_EhVc41l2BPwlYw74AOVBDFANcjZ2E7GrXJ00FGHzsYmgqfco6jxQN6vzIgkV2oIwZs3XrasnJCmSs7Vc2d13ue8jPOAvP5QtPJYf8fopAUaG5HQ8wSecJ9bb5b3I0BmLQ1F1TRc/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSYu_EhVc41l2BPwlYw74AOVBDFANcjZ2E7GrXJ00FGHzsYmgqfco6jxQN6vzIgkV2oIwZs3XrasnJCmSs7Vc2d13ue8jPOAvP5QtPJYf8fopAUaG5HQ8wSecJ9bb5b3I0BmLQ1F1TRc/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
I forged on down the side of the lake, a front country bit of track that I finished in little more than an hour passing many overnight and day walkers picking their way across mud and streams rock by rock. I don't bother with that - clump, clump, clump on through. </div>
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I don't know if it's the time of year, but the wasp eradication program seems to be going well. The forest here is normally abuzz with them, literally, but the forest was peaceful coming through.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAp3icZcEBbPkepYU0nzbWfik_8t9KyFxasI1O_52JaR8jLo4PAu8W1t_2CBNg64-H2NGLriLz435j-ZClomfJon00i70xL9Mw_EIldi0E4dZVNC8Xgx2dFfFxK6f2MvzDAR51w_3kAg/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAp3icZcEBbPkepYU0nzbWfik_8t9KyFxasI1O_52JaR8jLo4PAu8W1t_2CBNg64-H2NGLriLz435j-ZClomfJon00i70xL9Mw_EIldi0E4dZVNC8Xgx2dFfFxK6f2MvzDAR51w_3kAg/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJT_e0qlPp8sDosSnz-G_cyNygtZzlCk9t-WWyNcujskY4LTy0XaPnX_Xbsu5NVXIx87TdwJVERM-BwTY-XkPS5rr6-EH_fipf-zOpie16vKyP5O2I5_JAEP6AFOcOSyLo0A3fC7slKcY/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJT_e0qlPp8sDosSnz-G_cyNygtZzlCk9t-WWyNcujskY4LTy0XaPnX_Xbsu5NVXIx87TdwJVERM-BwTY-XkPS5rr6-EH_fipf-zOpie16vKyP5O2I5_JAEP6AFOcOSyLo0A3fC7slKcY/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
And so to St Arnaud, and the point where I leave the last lake on trail.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kC7sl1C9kXnqZyQKoc7pkl1i0EjVheZExVrX8EeIDguXu_EnhvR1A5B8IWBVS_pn165eY56gl9tcJTAwkkX9bOZuXHLMeXdkUgedGUecKXO8Wej_1_MKv-OH7NKm6533V5Fi3XwUMr4/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kC7sl1C9kXnqZyQKoc7pkl1i0EjVheZExVrX8EeIDguXu_EnhvR1A5B8IWBVS_pn165eY56gl9tcJTAwkkX9bOZuXHLMeXdkUgedGUecKXO8Wej_1_MKv-OH7NKm6533V5Fi3XwUMr4/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
I'd booked into a hotel in St Arnaud and was in the foyer when I pretty much banged into a work friend who was up at his bach from Motueka. Turns out I got to stay there instead. Thanks Andrew!</div>
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0(-41.806946 172.84666)-41.806946 172.84666tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-45116902116315199072018-04-03T16:59:00.001+12:002018-06-26T16:03:35.404+12:00Day 52 - West Sabine Hut to John Tait Hut, 13.5km, 6 hours <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am done! ... with my original pair of socks. Having done more than a thousand kilometres they are getting threadbare and have been relegated to hut socks. My pristine hut socks now get the chance to step up to the plate.<br />
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It's Easter weekend - today is Easter Sunday - so I've been sharing the huts with the great unwashed masses. Unfortunately for the great unwashed masses, I am an even more unwashed mass/mess. In any case, being Easter Sunday, I started the morning by going around the hut handing out Easter eggs - there was much gratitude. <br />
Today also marks April Fools and the end of daylight savings. A triple whammy. Normally I love the extra hour of sleep, but it's completely irrelevant to me here - I'm well and truly into the routine of operating with the sun. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIa8FnqipQu1vK6gbSOL85CYhsiJHvcPQXd27r3wp6ozhRP0VWDHPGyash3NDogd212_zx2tC6vOnRYwBZwzXfwXG68mxVWZdMIOwNGdkcLAUiRFVsG7Sm1HwkweMz_wI1Rhua2GWhzA0/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIa8FnqipQu1vK6gbSOL85CYhsiJHvcPQXd27r3wp6ozhRP0VWDHPGyash3NDogd212_zx2tC6vOnRYwBZwzXfwXG68mxVWZdMIOwNGdkcLAUiRFVsG7Sm1HwkweMz_wI1Rhua2GWhzA0/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="112" /></a>Today I had a climb to match the recent Waiau Pass; this time 1000 meters to the Travers - Sabine Saddle. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRb9BqfQmAE58hwlY99MiYJmurl2S3TTP5IjpvwongYmPAducrzPs6NE9MEZA753FXW67DWTCh0DmnouH-WSA13QyouUEd8XU0xktG1V-r0G69qwbP-GIfGEVEBsg_IDKoS9daum5HtI0/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRb9BqfQmAE58hwlY99MiYJmurl2S3TTP5IjpvwongYmPAducrzPs6NE9MEZA753FXW67DWTCh0DmnouH-WSA13QyouUEd8XU0xktG1V-r0G69qwbP-GIfGEVEBsg_IDKoS9daum5HtI0/s400/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="225" /></a>Maybe I'm getting fit, but it was easy. There were a couple of hundred steep meters close to the bush line, but apart from that nothing to write home about and I did it largely without stopping.<br />
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Near the start of the climb the Sabine River is crossed, far above a fearsome chasm. The river can be barely spied in the dark below, but certainly can be heard!<br />
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Above the bush line the path of the east and west Sabine Valleys can be easily made out below. My hut from last night is close to the confluence of the two rivers.<br />
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The views expand a little further at the saddle itself. The Arthur Range in behind Motueka can be made out to the northwest - a first visible indication that I'm approaching the north coast!<br />
Then it's down the other side of the into the upper Travers - the top of the Travers River is quite picturesque. <br />
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I stopped at Upper Travers Hut, which has sensational views of the saddle, intending to stay the night. After a few hours here and with a dodgy weather forecast for tomorrow, I changed my mind and headed down valley to shorten tomorrow's walking.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDW4UvEXlHw0JF7mM9SFkV_4ZnWtmAeCqcUsQMASkFv_MneJAcQ-YMzBOzk5nK6q3kU3VgtPQGxP6uJWThDWXJHEc2z2LXrQtBf-jACNx-JzROAj9EQCFGTIKWMhY4s-V3KeSTXqJAec/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDW4UvEXlHw0JF7mM9SFkV_4ZnWtmAeCqcUsQMASkFv_MneJAcQ-YMzBOzk5nK6q3kU3VgtPQGxP6uJWThDWXJHEc2z2LXrQtBf-jACNx-JzROAj9EQCFGTIKWMhY4s-V3KeSTXqJAec/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVzNzHoFreGsxnrSrwGVM9OKJZaJypYOgSToq73NNX4xSB99TCFeecJz5ePK-eUrRBrNxr2NJnEcYxRps-cAgACCZRQNUAh3kKgAjCmSKwbmHyh6sBhn9wHfdNAysavhBvWlXFn1t2oY/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVzNzHoFreGsxnrSrwGVM9OKJZaJypYOgSToq73NNX4xSB99TCFeecJz5ePK-eUrRBrNxr2NJnEcYxRps-cAgACCZRQNUAh3kKgAjCmSKwbmHyh6sBhn9wHfdNAysavhBvWlXFn1t2oY/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></a>The Travers is another beautiful river. The track goes directly beside it - it's quite marvellous. But I was feeling a bit blasé about it. It was a gentler version of my adrenaline filled Sabine walk from yesterday, so perhaps this was inevitable.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdLPRCS302xQrXJ-chXUs4_nlVIvg80yS9jkL5SJSFd-hmzoKRNQKWHPloT1rDsQAPnKPCtAhDFoTUF1XbTePevo-cctKCrfsV_rW8m9KNWLT3i185W9gfRahRWGfqfRERUIOVODQcUU/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdLPRCS302xQrXJ-chXUs4_nlVIvg80yS9jkL5SJSFd-hmzoKRNQKWHPloT1rDsQAPnKPCtAhDFoTUF1XbTePevo-cctKCrfsV_rW8m9KNWLT3i185W9gfRahRWGfqfRERUIOVODQcUU/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="180" /></a>There's nothing like a big waterfall to snap the feeling of "I've seen all of this before". The Travers plummets through a gorge, similar to the Sabine from this morning, and exits in this spectacular cascade. <br />
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Shortly after I arrived at my accommodation for the night, John Tait Hut. Somehow there was no-one in residence, despite the fact it is only a day's walk from St Arnaud, although 2 people turned up later. Nevertheless after a full hut for each of the last two nights I'm looking forward to a quiet night.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9GAnTeBkhyphenhyphenlwSreImFv3eb5T_nS-0ZEhyphenhyphenVujzplivZ1OnSqWJDOQEcljSk6is6zC_tSjgY3ReyA9n2e1OUGhIHFRJZPtFuJ70H__sB6ep64qivCatcveiVVHsplqVFbn08t5F3Vzk0GQ/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9GAnTeBkhyphenhyphenlwSreImFv3eb5T_nS-0ZEhyphenhyphenVujzplivZ1OnSqWJDOQEcljSk6is6zC_tSjgY3ReyA9n2e1OUGhIHFRJZPtFuJ70H__sB6ep64qivCatcveiVVHsplqVFbn08t5F3Vzk0GQ/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="200" /></a></div>
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0New Zealand-41.974445 172.76889tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-59875851699041510182018-04-03T16:32:00.001+12:002018-06-26T14:00:25.991+12:00Day 51 - Blue Lake Hut to West Sabine Hut, 6.9km, 2 hours 20 minutes <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Both the shortest and the most adrenaline packed day of the walk.<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Dp-461Mh8zU/WsL_tClB-UI/AAAAAAABeHA/491AAACLC2cddELS_nPHeroLK3Ftipk0wCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Dp-461Mh8zU/WsL_tClB-UI/AAAAAAABeHA/491AAACLC2cddELS_nPHeroLK3Ftipk0wCHMYCw/s400/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a>After hard yakka over the pass yesterday, I had been planning a zero day today. After a good sleep I woke to rain, but was feeling good. Normally you might see a day of rain as a chance to hunker down in a hut. However I'd been looking forward to enjoying the lake and the upper Sabine River (Blue Lake is the source for the Sabine). With a day of rain that was now off the cards, and with the hut quickly filling up with easter trampers in early afternoon I decided to head down valley a tad to make tomorrow's walk (another climbing day) shorter.<br />
Heading out you could see why I wasn't keen on toodling around in the Sabine River.<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-js5AHbOc_Ws/WsMARr2tQsI/AAAAAAABeHM/IRJxQJ9r8OcYuuwueR-prDhxjqkKfgwVwCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-js5AHbOc_Ws/WsMARr2tQsI/AAAAAAABeHM/IRJxQJ9r8OcYuuwueR-prDhxjqkKfgwVwCHMYCw/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="112" /></a><br />
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Further down valley there were a number of avalanche zones. Obviously there's no trouble with snow this time of year, but an avalanche zone is also a natural fall line for rocks. With the rain getting heavier, with a consummate risk of rock fall, I was keen to get across these areas pretty quickly, especially when I came across a boulder field with trees snapped off like metaphorical matchsticks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdC0AGVVRpdcocZ0tDE_bRUXfohPqh4MwP4FdINqKwRpKQALtdgt_kgpLcHMs9GnEvL_Ec5PG2OYKU2fdtVf3ulw_oRontbxw7N3OQ2beyxVUXG9-NfzVsjkf_AOpk8va3CozCgTZMLbs/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdC0AGVVRpdcocZ0tDE_bRUXfohPqh4MwP4FdINqKwRpKQALtdgt_kgpLcHMs9GnEvL_Ec5PG2OYKU2fdtVf3ulw_oRontbxw7N3OQ2beyxVUXG9-NfzVsjkf_AOpk8va3CozCgTZMLbs/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="179" /></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uhdkdDsO2bo/WsMAZIl0-GI/AAAAAAABeHQ/sfQuiFBoJ441g69ogxLn1E6Jrl4iY1uyACHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uhdkdDsO2bo/WsMAZIl0-GI/AAAAAAABeHQ/sfQuiFBoJ441g69ogxLn1E6Jrl4iY1uyACHMYCw/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="200" /></a>Not more than a minute later there was a peel somewhat like thunder from high on Mt Franklin. I knew immediately what it was - a boulder had dislodged high on the mountain, anything up to a thousand meters above me - and was heading my way. As the noise grew I backed off watchfully in the probably futile hope that I might be able to dodge it if it came close. With an explosion of noise and water it dropped into the river 50 meters in front of me, sending a plume up to 20 meters into the air. With wide eyes I double timed out of there.<br />
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With the rain continuing hard the track was turning into a fairly large stream.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjdHzpZTCisH2f7KxN2QX_rXERxoAElqZlu7JAxAt0v9qBa80uyjGG_0u6y9QlyXnt8vpO-GgDzAZ4OyjlJgGkRfgiUbzgigWx85-JZBYwSiNiEm1irNgLXDVbHTjZ5azMgL0BvEz8po/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFjdHzpZTCisH2f7KxN2QX_rXERxoAElqZlu7JAxAt0v9qBa80uyjGG_0u6y9QlyXnt8vpO-GgDzAZ4OyjlJgGkRfgiUbzgigWx85-JZBYwSiNiEm1irNgLXDVbHTjZ5azMgL0BvEz8po/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a>Large side streams were careering into the Sabine with little run-out, requiring a lot of care in their crossing - definitely not the place to lose footing!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEAW5EkojAahTUyyDNYnIw_TPr6XM4yT9jF18vM59aMxwwsImSDyYNDQ1B1cBWw_TODV2C2Z839SLgifi9bUtUOObMNC7hcWWBna_st4m9Zw6h-J2_dl7m7ivXGoh6qloroo3YCk7nGo/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEAW5EkojAahTUyyDNYnIw_TPr6XM4yT9jF18vM59aMxwwsImSDyYNDQ1B1cBWw_TODV2C2Z839SLgifi9bUtUOObMNC7hcWWBna_st4m9Zw6h-J2_dl7m7ivXGoh6qloroo3YCk7nGo/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
The Sabine itself had become a maelstrom. I was keen to stay as far as possible away from it.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRw1Q2v5CxlL_9RkoDjVAYO62pX-xE2vHaLA70IT3v8qR8YOInXPCZtw8ZX0OKep4VkfXORuvhFeFwjbpmb2Cqv4ocgy4U0NNGqhixEU7rd8snBwkrNKMFXS2CU8R64mPuUOmuwLa2fg/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguRw1Q2v5CxlL_9RkoDjVAYO62pX-xE2vHaLA70IT3v8qR8YOInXPCZtw8ZX0OKep4VkfXORuvhFeFwjbpmb2Cqv4ocgy4U0NNGqhixEU7rd8snBwkrNKMFXS2CU8R64mPuUOmuwLa2fg/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xJS9UlwPGOM/WsMDvmyv0rI/AAAAAAABeH8/PYLtkZ1cC0sVImlMuxCwouia1OTq8ADiQCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xJS9UlwPGOM/WsMDvmyv0rI/AAAAAAABeH8/PYLtkZ1cC0sVImlMuxCwouia1OTq8ADiQCHMYCw/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="200" /></a>I was pleased to see the hut!<br />
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com1New Zealand-42.00778 172.68388tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-6818129053881623442018-04-03T14:20:00.001+12:002018-06-26T13:43:09.271+12:00Day 50 - Waiau Hut to Blue Lake Hut, 16km, 7 hours <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I don't know which got the greater workout today, my legs or the camera. Probably my legs - I was pretty exhausted by the time I finished, in a way I haven't been since the 2200m day on the Motutapu. Certainly it was the most technically difficult day on trail, the most tiring mentally, and up there with the Motutapu day physically.<br />
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But I get ahead of myself. I had another fairly sleepless night last night, which is confusing - I was tired enough after a biggish day's walking yesterday and a sleepless night the night before. I'm carrying a bit of a cold picked up from home, but I doubt it's that - I just have a runny nose and not much else. Perhaps the prospect of Waiau Pass today was concerning me. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6ESMRN6iHUj0nWAYnB6b3PEeNiT2Favw1QJUfNoUWeDnPFUEsfkD0Uk0Nz5M52Xfg2mRc8wMdmo5V110iqcmSgng5uj2HBRcpLkAtBqoByOk41Fbl887XL_ftN14Uuj2rKWEEyzCxbo/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6ESMRN6iHUj0nWAYnB6b3PEeNiT2Favw1QJUfNoUWeDnPFUEsfkD0Uk0Nz5M52Xfg2mRc8wMdmo5V110iqcmSgng5uj2HBRcpLkAtBqoByOk41Fbl887XL_ftN14Uuj2rKWEEyzCxbo/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></a></div>
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Starting off up valley it didn't feel like I was climbing, but given the river was a raging torrent beside me, I must have been. <br />
After an hour or so the pass was revealed. If looked very bluffy. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCzLVLsBog2Qli_wk6f3Rn0Y0F5qoeFJ5B597ECvwPKwXC6AI9i5yUEjmqRXIfy-z15FFPt_bYtvdKxmP9wklpusi_RusDUTpEa8mSqEqxXAGHYX5YMl3ZigYPQOzhHrXVHI6J1oJwWA/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCzLVLsBog2Qli_wk6f3Rn0Y0F5qoeFJ5B597ECvwPKwXC6AI9i5yUEjmqRXIfy-z15FFPt_bYtvdKxmP9wklpusi_RusDUTpEa8mSqEqxXAGHYX5YMl3ZigYPQOzhHrXVHI6J1oJwWA/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="180" /></a>Moving up river there was some difficult loose scree to traverse dropping away at 30+ degrees down to the river. As I made my way across numerous stones and boulders would cascade into the Waiau 20 meters below me. It made for nervous, exhausting and dangerous times. It took me 15 minutes to get across 100 metres of it, and this was still on approach to beginning the proper climb!<br />
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As the steeper stuff towards the pass began, the Waiau River was now less that than just a series of spectacular cascades. It made quite the place to celebrate crossing the 1000km milestone. <br />
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The pass was a formidable sight; an unbroken line of enormous cliffs and bluffs with no immediately discernable easy, or even safe, line of attack.<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VR1h-Y9EFMk/WsLirnqdFhI/AAAAAAABeFQ/bsvF3qsJ6Fk28vkANCn53D8TxhIjdlNkgCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VR1h-Y9EFMk/WsLirnqdFhI/AAAAAAABeFQ/bsvF3qsJ6Fk28vkANCn53D8TxhIjdlNkgCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyue6n-g3wJmLWMhhReJBqPyaU30NlVZssj1Xkw-VRVWXeIhUZ7KurWshlPEfL9Y6O1H30r7bz4YSosp0z6-B6Mz3pAKb3eoH9Whkrc8H_PIzIwXKShrDsSducUAZrHfqi61WZTsXgM8/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl76ufCqQfBniTd4naW9ol1rGW9OPVRns0FFMZi8LOQs-Pvfhv6MQGlQD1_trMXcvSxeVVuUFmneqrVKTnqcrjKjhaBFQn6UvIUMV0pOhzX68_iHXf5wQN7uJ1dN8yP6reoUIaGFXZkyY/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl76ufCqQfBniTd4naW9ol1rGW9OPVRns0FFMZi8LOQs-Pvfhv6MQGlQD1_trMXcvSxeVVuUFmneqrVKTnqcrjKjhaBFQn6UvIUMV0pOhzX68_iHXf5wQN7uJ1dN8yP6reoUIaGFXZkyY/s400/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="225" /></a></div>
However the lower 400 meters of climbing turned out to be not so bad. The top 400 meters was much more technical though, at least in a tramping sense. I'd probably characterise it as low grade rock climbing; requiring careful line selection, 3 points of contact, thought given to hand holds, the odd toe jam and even a mini chimney. Difficult stuff with a heavy pack on. Fortunately it was good, stable rock and not slippery. The exposure was also pretty minimal. Nevertheless the concentration required here actually made the effort of climbing easier - the meters to the top melted away through this section.<br />
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I reached the top in time for lunch, once again on the main divide and this time also on the dividing line between Canterbury and the Nelson Lakes, and at 1880m the second highest point on trail. <br />
I was able to enjoy views south down the Waiau Valley, where I had come from...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLX5GuGikHKFZLwhVpbqIwsIa0poeI7QctkYRqWYhBXRI-Ew5GX1gQ9J3oA5JvPOtDuZPzF2tJViNk4LmD8bL-GhhbIn45Ms59OzdYQx6vYmkLi6E4e1PwVO8LxJKtMHe0RNDeY9yZlI/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLX5GuGikHKFZLwhVpbqIwsIa0poeI7QctkYRqWYhBXRI-Ew5GX1gQ9J3oA5JvPOtDuZPzF2tJViNk4LmD8bL-GhhbIn45Ms59OzdYQx6vYmkLi6E4e1PwVO8LxJKtMHe0RNDeY9yZlI/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLB3TSj7bZ8I5N7AHATPdiBW3i8EyIdaGq5RZDohPko8UNECRzsw8rG6qiA_HmA29E9A9_3oMBVMDJpnqSzxCb4iVzu3U89ms0rvPWYarCmYkOPVP1MtiQG1W04jivVGjk2i9qv1iq-O0/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLB3TSj7bZ8I5N7AHATPdiBW3i8EyIdaGq5RZDohPko8UNECRzsw8rG6qiA_HmA29E9A9_3oMBVMDJpnqSzxCb4iVzu3U89ms0rvPWYarCmYkOPVP1MtiQG1W04jivVGjk2i9qv1iq-O0/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="179" /></a>...and north down to Lake Constance which I would shortly be dropping down to.<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KEpQEw7cBy4/WsLj1g7PPGI/AAAAAAABeF4/jSbcz-kxeSQku8cAnGh0CroyNYEjPISYwCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KEpQEw7cBy4/WsLj1g7PPGI/AAAAAAABeF4/jSbcz-kxeSQku8cAnGh0CroyNYEjPISYwCHMYCw/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="200" /></a>The descent was largely scree. I expected an easy drop down to the valley floor by skiing it. These plans dissolved when I ended up on my bum 2 or 3 times, then in an uncontrolled slide with a mildly banged up elbow and a massive hole in the bum of my shorts. It was just too steep and reluctantly I went back to knee bashing down the track. I was pleased to reach the valley floor.<br />
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After a swim to dust off in Lake Constance I continued on, up onto some bluffs skirting high above the lake. This was difficult travel after the arduous pass, albeit provided some great views down to the lake.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_J4pGZBAji825UvCyE5SsidgeMlBtYn4SLPZyU7CONod22BvXsa_Fq8NZJIW7LGYbNfKz9_KVFdI14WjWRWx_gXmhLe5wFGL308InuxN4ABr0fYIrJQOv-scIUQ3XWZeXatGZ-6D7J5U/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_J4pGZBAji825UvCyE5SsidgeMlBtYn4SLPZyU7CONod22BvXsa_Fq8NZJIW7LGYbNfKz9_KVFdI14WjWRWx_gXmhLe5wFGL308InuxN4ABr0fYIrJQOv-scIUQ3XWZeXatGZ-6D7J5U/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUdD9wJUiQTtQv7dmVk-P9AlVLb_qONMWAahWPFjEDyInhV9j43w9iMzGAC7ao1XIWXagminbHWQudiY-6jtPCF-aQv3odfG2SpE0wJHq-aF3-0tyxkit-7vq1q9lf1gdXUyGt3Lm6bw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUdD9wJUiQTtQv7dmVk-P9AlVLb_qONMWAahWPFjEDyInhV9j43w9iMzGAC7ao1XIWXagminbHWQudiY-6jtPCF-aQv3odfG2SpE0wJHq-aF3-0tyxkit-7vq1q9lf1gdXUyGt3Lm6bw/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></a>Across the lake there is an enormous scarp where a large part of Mt Franklin has at some point in the past few thousand years fallen to the valley floor, blocking it and forming the lake. The trail goes across the literal mountain of stone that fell, and washed wave like up the other side of the valley. If you ever wanted to know what the inside of a mountain looks like, here you go.<br />
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From the edge of the scarp I had a view of the ethereal Blue Lake. Lake Constance, a couple of hundred meters above it, does not have an outflow point. Instead there is a spring in the scree wall that blocks Constance, which then flows into Blue Lake. This scree filtering results in exceptionally clear water. In fact Blue Lake has recently replaced Pupu Springs as having the greatest clarity in the world. It has been measured as having a view distance of 80 meters, theoretically the same as pure distilled water. If you ask me the recently discovered Lake Vostock, or whatever it is called, down in Antarctica, which has been covered in ice for millions of years would have to be clearer, but I guess maybe they haven't measured it yet. Certainly both Lake Constance and the Blue Lake are clear enough to be able to easily pick out individual rocks lying on the lake bed, when perched high above them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMx1m4yHoeHO1aTXO5dtrXSgo6huQcLcFYHkWitr6m773-ngfpvOzifEbuzOHcQGCpRtdmc91BoJX1xUUIH3RExRDcmMlB3A5ItG-vK7TFzNa5QBuRpUJr2MeFXR8LuabuHEurqtrzCE/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMx1m4yHoeHO1aTXO5dtrXSgo6huQcLcFYHkWitr6m773-ngfpvOzifEbuzOHcQGCpRtdmc91BoJX1xUUIH3RExRDcmMlB3A5ItG-vK7TFzNa5QBuRpUJr2MeFXR8LuabuHEurqtrzCE/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjD0Qht4v40arN3msspcSa6PQsT1JCeIzckUL6GhLxxjXI5S5B_8CgeaFDouWdtokLSsEZTUCBZnhJr4Lj5E0nPi8nzgG7yq2cUoTycQp54dr1nmHv5nfIzJZ-_VlHE61-UhkPlGBHDI/s1600/20180330_163351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjD0Qht4v40arN3msspcSa6PQsT1JCeIzckUL6GhLxxjXI5S5B_8CgeaFDouWdtokLSsEZTUCBZnhJr4Lj5E0nPi8nzgG7yq2cUoTycQp54dr1nmHv5nfIzJZ-_VlHE61-UhkPlGBHDI/s200/20180330_163351.jpg" width="200" /></a>And so to the hut and a much needed rest. I sewed my shorts up. How to describe my sewing skills? Let's just say that if I was a surgeon my patients would be left with horribly disfiguring scars. Needless to say my shorts are now looking decidedly second hand.<br />
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0New Zealand-42.058056 172.65527tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-58686354906164188822018-04-03T10:30:00.001+12:002018-04-03T10:30:34.833+12:00Week 7 Summary <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>A full 7 days walked, 136km covered, pretty much identical to last week.<br/>
My back is really starting to complain about things and I'm now taking voltaren pretty regularly, every 3 days or so.<br/>
Having moved away from home for the last time, my focus is now solely on finishing the walk, which should be done in about 3 weeks.<br/>
I'm now walking alone for pretty much the first time on trail and enjoying the solitude, although I'm not sure I'd have enjoyed it for the whole island. Walking solo I am a bit nervous about the difficult Waiau Pass and Richmond Ranges that are coming up.</div>Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-42754424431273026412018-04-03T08:29:00.001+12:002018-06-26T13:29:13.189+12:00Day 49 - Anne Hut to Waiau Hut, 28.2km, 6 hours 15 minutes <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qUGiWwxZheI/WsKPwabNOyI/AAAAAAABd7E/cqql0Rj1Gw8RHkIpi2gyXHUZXpOnD_YIgCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qUGiWwxZheI/WsKPwabNOyI/AAAAAAABd7E/cqql0Rj1Gw8RHkIpi2gyXHUZXpOnD_YIgCHMYCw/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></a><br />
I had a restless night last night with little sleep. I'm not sure why, sometimes it just happens.<br />
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I started off down valley, making for the confluence with the Waiau River, where I would be leaving the St James Walkway and forging off towards Waiau Pass. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWKb-xPMUOaURxXDJIYq4HuY6C0YKVBBQRRNWs0MVNx4kJPwPahJbOferkjDqvVakq6DDl-cO1oFW4rJRkmWPeCAoUwz28QsWVndHW9WzQR4gEWqZqG4mNfkhJN-OHb5hGetNNtblSUw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWKb-xPMUOaURxXDJIYq4HuY6C0YKVBBQRRNWs0MVNx4kJPwPahJbOferkjDqvVakq6DDl-cO1oFW4rJRkmWPeCAoUwz28QsWVndHW9WzQR4gEWqZqG4mNfkhJN-OHb5hGetNNtblSUw/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="200" /></a>Shortly after the turn I happened upon the famous St James wild horses. I was glad to see them, I had an idea that they had been culled after the aversion to public land of the St James Station.<br />
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I continued on. I was in a self congratulatory mood, having walked the best part of 1000km without once having erred off trail by more than a couple of hundred meters, not realising that even as I was having this thought I was forging a good 3km off track. In my defence I was heading on a trail, just the wrong one - the St James Cycle Trail. Never mind, it did take me down the Waiau River to where it dives off into a spectacular gorge; I'm just unsure whether it was worth the extra 6 km there and back again to see it.<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JwVE7XZYr9Q/WsKR1gjkmoI/AAAAAAABd7Y/wmICQ64C9qIpAXRf8ktk1RqT9abLVETMACHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JwVE7XZYr9Q/WsKR1gjkmoI/AAAAAAABd7Y/wmICQ64C9qIpAXRf8ktk1RqT9abLVETMACHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-WsMCJBhvgAKoscBTWq79380mwf247WkII2vK6UNH9haFk_olO0CKuVZ6HCu1uYrcvUo_9DYaU_-u9mBY0MaTeBYRdnY_oikySXDgSGhvLXI8nUr8yG_CM3VTCZWvfDIa9R3gdrI168/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-WsMCJBhvgAKoscBTWq79380mwf247WkII2vK6UNH9haFk_olO0CKuVZ6HCu1uYrcvUo_9DYaU_-u9mBY0MaTeBYRdnY_oikySXDgSGhvLXI8nUr8yG_CM3VTCZWvfDIa9R3gdrI168/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="227" /></a>Ideas of an extended lunch were curtailed by the legions of sandflies that descended as I sat, so I continued on up valley. There was some very pretty river walking but Waiau Pass, which had been looking intimidating all day, was looking progressively more so as I approached the end of the valley.<br />
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Oh well, tomorrow's problem. I had reached the brand new Waiau Hut, which had opened since I had started the trail - an extraordinary donation to the country from an ordinary guy who lives down in Timaru. I'd been really looking forward to staying here - it's a great little hut with a fantastic fire and a beautiful scenic outlook.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKwMOyfWAJKhB6aURgtMVVo7ibg3jLNRvY59ciMMtx8BKLTb_huYfp6zPNLRWu-FFiTyNsgzqPx_4lU0MhrD90kR4ImXxC0-VGj01p7aBMbOg-6fMRaiaJSjY77m9ULAXGigZPsQS84o/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyKwMOyfWAJKhB6aURgtMVVo7ibg3jLNRvY59ciMMtx8BKLTb_huYfp6zPNLRWu-FFiTyNsgzqPx_4lU0MhrD90kR4ImXxC0-VGj01p7aBMbOg-6fMRaiaJSjY77m9ULAXGigZPsQS84o/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="200" /></a></div>
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com0Saint James Range, Canterbury, New Zealand-42.18028 172.66139tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818484958417779197.post-19532024087168711482018-04-02T16:30:00.001+12:002018-06-26T13:24:00.841+12:00Day 48 - Boyle Flats Hut to Anne Hut, 16.6km, 4 hours <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTjQHG2Lu2EurN2tLjRXOhEaLSsW7xcbaSt4zqF-X3yf0eK3KNYQ9nqlN5ASqMn_US2AVWvgyRuHUTorZ1X9R2cMH6ZY6gH5Hi6M8cfHslHDaOAOSlUEp1dPACuserOw61F332Wc7AGA/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTjQHG2Lu2EurN2tLjRXOhEaLSsW7xcbaSt4zqF-X3yf0eK3KNYQ9nqlN5ASqMn_US2AVWvgyRuHUTorZ1X9R2cMH6ZY6gH5Hi6M8cfHslHDaOAOSlUEp1dPACuserOw61F332Wc7AGA/s320/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="320" /></a>I woke from a really good sleep to a beautiful morning and set off into the upper Boyle Valley.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNiZEhZkk-JWIcTCwJgXaEHyHdPLnDz6KpyWF9oiv3W_V0TEuRg0bS-KRwBdNBlFMHGOHKC626pzuZmJ6FFYQyZR7VnYJBeoBuLEfWwTMaeeOJ0WtS7fwUUEq8ijxBqc1AU0J4DdBiDg/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNiZEhZkk-JWIcTCwJgXaEHyHdPLnDz6KpyWF9oiv3W_V0TEuRg0bS-KRwBdNBlFMHGOHKC626pzuZmJ6FFYQyZR7VnYJBeoBuLEfWwTMaeeOJ0WtS7fwUUEq8ijxBqc1AU0J4DdBiDg/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="200" /></a>It wasn't long before I passed Rokeby Hut. Last time I'd been here was with my brothers Paul and Stephen. We'd just had a memorable night, for all the wrong reasons. We'd dropped over Anne Saddle late in the evening and taken the first tent site available once we got to the river - indeed the only tent site for some distance. It snowed over night, a small stream we were camped beside rose, and we ended up with 3 inches of slush in the bottom of the tent, seated back to back to back, waiting for the first glimpse of dawn. No sleep, with probably my longest ever night. As soon as dawn started touching the sky we packed up and stumbled down to Rokeby Hut, near hypothermic. We lit a huge fire and warned up for an hour or two - I can still recall the steam in the tiny hut as we dried ourselves, and everything else, out. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdnPKD1FpfxPAcdebnb67WZzkuPAAvO6oMTZQqtP1BSmiWmNoeA0sIpZbBksSrsAIbjeew2NRmuCazU8yPPh-hdCRbq910fb74q7TVSh_lk7wsOnHF5pDyLeOsOcqgjFu33cmSJaPOV8/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdnPKD1FpfxPAcdebnb67WZzkuPAAvO6oMTZQqtP1BSmiWmNoeA0sIpZbBksSrsAIbjeew2NRmuCazU8yPPh-hdCRbq910fb74q7TVSh_lk7wsOnHF5pDyLeOsOcqgjFu33cmSJaPOV8/s400/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="400" /></a>Today's weather couldn't have been more different. My legs couldn't have felt better, and in 30 minutes I was up Anne Saddle and down the other side. <br />
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The top of the Anne Valley is a beautiful place. The St James Walkway, which it is part of, is very worthwhile, especially since it has reverted to public land and been largely de-stocked. It has a sub-alpine feel yet has no significant climbing, the 200 meters over the Anne Saddle the only exception.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3tKlu6U6HbSsSX_vEAZ1Qa6xEqxqguCaE-KebGWKff4X7Ryl4gr_B7yff71zyZBtClfPKTtezpg6gkvXRHZViDO_y79hiltdWM_S8o5byq7_jEJf8Cf1RHkoaPEGGxMUS14TOZhXRXQ/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3tKlu6U6HbSsSX_vEAZ1Qa6xEqxqguCaE-KebGWKff4X7Ryl4gr_B7yff71zyZBtClfPKTtezpg6gkvXRHZViDO_y79hiltdWM_S8o5byq7_jEJf8Cf1RHkoaPEGGxMUS14TOZhXRXQ/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0mCanaoshUg/WsGx6bcT8_I/AAAAAAABdt4/x-ml6OVKI-IKf81Pgt9KsYD2W8Ff18F0QCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0mCanaoshUg/WsGx6bcT8_I/AAAAAAABdt4/x-ml6OVKI-IKf81Pgt9KsYD2W8Ff18F0QCHMYCw/s200/%255BUNSET%255D" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="200" /></a>Pushing on down valley I got a bit of a shock when I saw what at first glance I first took for 3 opossums immediately beside the track. In actual fact they were 3 piglets - I have no idea where the mother was and there was nothing I could do for them in any case.<br />
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I had been intending to push on to Waiau Hut today - I had plenty of time to do so. However this would have me exiting to St Arnaud on Easter Sunday. I'm hopeful of finding some accommodation there thereby avoiding the tent, so it would be better to come out on Monday. Therefore I decided on another really easy day by stopping at Anne Hut. Since I had been here last the old Anne Hut had burned down, with a beautiful hut built another kilometer down the valley as a replacement. It sits really well into the landscape.<br />
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oYe-C4YBOlY/WsGxNUJcsvI/AAAAAAABdto/iDIrKZEAnbMFxEFqSw_LVdpAgD2d2MoqQCHMYCw/s2560/%255BUNSET%255D" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oYe-C4YBOlY/WsGxNUJcsvI/AAAAAAABdto/iDIrKZEAnbMFxEFqSw_LVdpAgD2d2MoqQCHMYCw/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
A hard afternoon of sunbathing on the porch in my knickers ensued.</div>
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Schulz Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12773523905179481117noreply@blogger.com3