No rush this morning since the trail for today was supposed to be easy. We started out on the gravel road again and had to climb a locked fence right at the beginning to continue on the road and we followed the riverbed. Besides the fact that the road became worse, more rocky and he sun was getting hotter and hotter it was not really bad. The entire stretch was flat. But it felt tiring right from the beginning. I don’t know why. And things kept on adding up – there were no markers so we missed a turn into the riverbed and since we didn’t want to go back we just cut through a small bush area, had to climb over an electric fence and sank into a few creeks and mud holes. Also after this the trail was not really visible, walking in the riverbed is really tiring since you have to watch every step and you constantly have rocks in your shoes. The trail notes recommended to stay on the true left bank of the river which we tried but the trail was even worse than walking in the river. A lot of mud and you still had to cross the river several times. Sandflies annoyed us badly during our lunch break and not wearing contact lenses due to my eye infection also doesn’t help to enjoy the scenery…
Somebody kept track – 2200km to go for us ?
Well, at the end we arrived at the hut but all had the same weird feeling. Besides the annoying track – and that has happened before – I couldn’t say what it was. But it was the first day so far that I did not really enjoy walking. Looking at the pictures of today it can’t be the landscape…
Anyways the day ended nicely in Hamilton Hut. A real fortress and the biggest one so far. We played a few rounds of Skat and I went to bed early. Tomorrow will be a great day again ? Only one day away from Arthur’s Pass ?
And the first positive sign in the hut: the penguin is accompanying me everywhere…
