TA Day 106, Stodys Hut to Hawea, 22 km
The cure for loneliness, is solitude. —Marianne Moore Waking up this morning felt like a new start on a new day. My muscles rested from the river sidling/up-and-down nightmare and I even sang “Que sera, sera” with my NOBO hut mate, Helen. How can I not feel better?
TA Day 105, Tin Hut to Stodys Hut, 27 km
A perfect sleep in a perfect, tiny historic musterer’s hut opens with pink clouds and orange light on the grassy hills. The wind is up, moving those clouds fast over the saddle I’ll climb soon, but first, the loo with a view – for real, as the door is unhinged and laying on the ground. […]
TA Day 104, Freehold Creek to Tin Hut, 30 km
Being alone is, we know, the best chance you have to be yourself, which is in turn the seed of integrity and of any possible originality. —Patricia Hampl My little lair in the beech forest was so dark overnight, bright stars shone through the tops of the thick canopy. It was slow start, but eventually […]
TA Day 103, Twizel to Freehold Creek, (29 km) + 6 km
At some point in life the world’s beauty becomes enough. —Toni Morrison The stars were spectacular overnight and I slept deeply in my little single bed in the Hobbit House. It’s a lazy morning on Denise’s porch – typical Kiwi with an enormous outdoor living space under a corrugated plastic roof. I lose myself in […]
TA Day 102, Tekapo to Twizel, (54 km)
I slept poorly last night with all the rustling about, phones going off and generally being stressed out knowing I need to slow down and enjoy, but somehow unable to just yet. So many friends responded with incredible words of kindness and encouragement when I posted my breakdown video on social media. It is the […]
TA Day 101, After Washdyke Stream to Tekapo, 26 km
The path is clear to road, past farms and down to the radiant turquoise of Tekapo under a cloudy sky.
TA Day 100, Royal Hut to after Washdyke Stream, 26 km
Stag Saddle is the highest point on the Te Araroa with a 360-degree view from Beuzenberg Peak.
TA Day 99, Crooked Spur Hut to Royal Hut, 16 km
I break down (briefly) on the steep Two Thumb Track from heat, exhaustion and mean Kiwis.
TA Day 98, Potts River Bridge Car Park to Crooked Spur Hut, 17 km + 14 km
A side trip to Mount Sunday starts the day before a crossing the braided Rangitata and up the Two Thumbs.
TA Day 97, Manuka Hut to Potts River Bridge Car Park, 33 km
Running out of food, the local ranch owner gives me enough food to cross the Rangitata.
