Good judgement, if I have to...

Discretion is often the better part of valor (see Jan 26), but sometimes those decisions are just endlessly frustrating to make. 

After a spectacular 27km walk yesterday, I was really looking forward to the most scenic portion of the Queen Charlotte Track - a section that spends most of its time on a ridge, but has a fair number of ups and downs. Unfortunately, while I'm still practically a goat on the uphill and flat sections, I'm slower than a snail on downhills and quite poorly balanced as well. With heavy rain most of the day yesterday (and a full gale last night), I just couldn't trust the clay and rock on the trail to dry out quickly, even with the great  weather we're having today. There's even an alternate road route, but I don't know how hilly or heavily trafficked it is. 

Thus, the boat. The you-should-have-used-the-other-company-because-they-offer-free-transfers boat. Oh well. Hope there's a nice beach/jetty at the next spot!

Zero in Lake Tekapo - halfway there!

Just a few thoughts:

1) Hot springs are a lovely, lovely way to relax hiker legs 

2) Ice cream is a necessity, not a luxury. 

3) Twizel would be better for a zero day than Lake Tekapo. Lake Pukaki's shores are better than either, though light on amenities. 

4) Nothing says love like home made brownies. Also, see #2. 

Mt Cook & the barren flats

This morning was so great!  We woke up to clear blue skies and a mirror-still Lake Pukaki. I was glancing out of my terribly-pitched tent just waiting for the peaks to start coloring, and as soon as they did, I was up with oatmeal in hand. 

After packing up, Rose and I set out for the third day of road walking. This time, we were largely adjacent to farm land, and we got several hours walking straight at Mt. Cook ( which was marvelously clear and quite majestic looking).  A bit before Braemer Rd, we separated, but this may have been for the best. 

The five hour walk on Braemer Rd was hot, dry, exposed, scrubby, and altogether unpleasant. Water sources were few and far between - most of the marked creeks were dry and many were either fenced off or chock full of cow pies. And the sun and wind were relentless. I just kept my hat pulled down and did my best to plow ahead. 

After that 20+ km of a forced march, hitching the last 3km of highway was an easy choice. I'm just glad that one place in town could accommodate me. 

Twizel to Lake Pukaki

Into Twizel (& some great trail angels)

Up and over to the Holiday Park

Across the Ahuri River