What a great day after yesterday. Staring out on a well marked and formed track. We circled through beautiful beach forest which was still covered in clouds during the morning. 
The change from yesterday to today is tremendous! It feels nice the back in the shade again.They even have swing bridges for us…


I can tell I am more cautious about my steps now only wearing trail runners and no boots anymore. It almost feels like a better connection of your feet to the ground since you a) fell more of the ground through the shoes and b) you have to select your steps more carefully to not twist your ankles.


 
After 1.5h Breann realised that she had forgotten her glasses in the hut. So Jay (what a gentleman) dropped his pack and ran back. Since the sandflies were eating me alive once we had stopped I had to continue walking by myself since also Ben took a later start. So I went in my own pace again taking a lot of time for pictures and talks with people coming up the other direction.

  
Met the funniest guy so far – a Swede hat only did a two day hike stood in the forest with his backpack and a little suitcase. When I asked him why he was carrying a suitcase he opened it and showed me his two plate cooking device with the comment “Well, didn’t fit in my backpack anymore…”. I cracked up and we had a great laugh together. What a hilarious picture – a hiker with a suitcase.

Unfortunately I lost my map and my trail notes somewhere. They must have fallen out somehow. The maps were only valid for the next four or five days but the notes for the rest of the South Island. Now I have to rely on my digital copy on my phone only…

Can you tell me which way to go now? ?


After reaching the saddle I decided to take my lunch break right on top enjoying the views! Wow! Very similar to our Alpes as well.


And before I forget I have to note down Breann’s favourite saying of the last weeks. No matter what happens, what breaks or how ridiculous and or frustrating the situation may look like (and you just wish yourself back home in your old life) she just says: “Well, that’s my life now!”. I love it ?

Two of my favourite pictures so far:


 A guy just passed me running down the hill and we just chatted quickly why I tried to keep up with him. It worked out so well even though he had no backpack and I had mine on that we just continued together. And after 30 minutes I was already down the entire slope chatting with the Canadian the entire time. Back in business ?

We arrived at Bealy’s Hut but since there was no water we decided to continue for another couple of hours to the next campsite.


This is how most of the bridges in NZ look like – one lane. So as a tramper you don’t have a lot of space…


When we arrived at the campsite there was no water. The stream was so dry that the water was only flowing underneath the rocks and soil now. I managed to get two litres from two Dutch girls. I love the Dutch! Thank you! And I guess my “skills” still work – even being smelly and looking like a hobo ?

Only annoying thing: sandflies. But really bad again. We learned later that Klondyke is famous for its sandflies…

Great day, nice views, my eyes are getting better – back on track. And tomorrow we are starting the famous and feared Mingha Deception…