Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Monday, 13 May 2013
Milford Track
After getting back in Te Anau, I went for lunch and received a call from Quentin and Mélanie saying they had booked for the next day a departure on Milford Track.
I was a bit skeptical because my legs were hurting. The first day on Kepler Track was very demanding, 32km and 1600 meters of climbing overall, and had an impact on my poor legs.
In the end, after checking the weather, and because I wanted to continue walking with people I knew, I booked also for the next day.
The first day was 22km long and only a few hundred meters of climbing. But it was still hard on my legs.
The second day was the hardest, 15km, 600 meters climbing up and 1000 meters climbing down.
That was like forever for my knees. But the the weather and the view were awesome.
The third day, I decided to have some rest despite the good weather.
On the fourth and final day, I started walking at 6.30 in order to be on time for the ferry at the end of the track. And unfortunately, it was raining all day.
Quentin and Mélanie did not wait for me so I was able to get some pictures of the last day with some sun.
More pictures again on Picasa.
I was a bit skeptical because my legs were hurting. The first day on Kepler Track was very demanding, 32km and 1600 meters of climbing overall, and had an impact on my poor legs.
In the end, after checking the weather, and because I wanted to continue walking with people I knew, I booked also for the next day.
The first day was 22km long and only a few hundred meters of climbing. But it was still hard on my legs.
The second day was the hardest, 15km, 600 meters climbing up and 1000 meters climbing down.
That was like forever for my knees. But the the weather and the view were awesome.
The third day, I decided to have some rest despite the good weather.
On the fourth and final day, I started walking at 6.30 in order to be on time for the ferry at the end of the track. And unfortunately, it was raining all day.
Quentin and Mélanie did not wait for me so I was able to get some pictures of the last day with some sun.
More pictures again on Picasa.
Kepler Track
May the 3rd, start of the Kepler track, 2 nights planned.
Quentin and me started walking from the DOC at 8.30. and arrived at the first hutt around noon.
After lunch, we decided that the weather was worth continuing walking to the next hutt. The next day was not as promising.
However, I arrived when it was almost complete dark after maybe 8 and half hours walk completely ruined.
Luckily, the end of the track is fairly flat.
On the second day, instead of staying in the big hutt (40 beds?), we continued with Katarina and Mélanie to a smaller hutt (6 beds) 40 minutes away. We met them the night before during "dinner".
I spent almost all the night slapping myself because of all the mosquitoes and sandflies.
On the last day, I walked until Rainbow Reach and got off the track to hitchhike back to Te Anau.
I was not lucky and had to walk for more than an hour until 2 Americans picked me up.
More pictures here
Quentin and me started walking from the DOC at 8.30. and arrived at the first hutt around noon.
After lunch, we decided that the weather was worth continuing walking to the next hutt. The next day was not as promising.
However, I arrived when it was almost complete dark after maybe 8 and half hours walk completely ruined.
Luckily, the end of the track is fairly flat.
On the second day, instead of staying in the big hutt (40 beds?), we continued with Katarina and Mélanie to a smaller hutt (6 beds) 40 minutes away. We met them the night before during "dinner".
I spent almost all the night slapping myself because of all the mosquitoes and sandflies.
On the last day, I walked until Rainbow Reach and got off the track to hitchhike back to Te Anau.
I was not lucky and had to walk for more than an hour until 2 Americans picked me up.
More pictures here
April in New Zealand
I spent the first week driving from Dunedin to Cromwell.
I have seen nice rounded hills and empty roads for a while.
Once in Alexandra, I checked again if I could find some work during the grape harvest season.
I did find some and I started on the 8th.
But before that, I played golf in Clyde and seen Cromwell's old town.
I spent 2 weeks harvesting grapes, for a total of 1140$.
After those 2 weeks, I spent one more week in Cromwell in order for my back to recover. I also wanted to wait for the end of the month so I could drive to Te Anau and inquire how I could do some Great Walks in the area.
May is the start of the off peak season and nights in the hutts of Milford Track drop from 55$ to 15$. Quite cheaper, and you do not have to book, so you can wait to be sure there will be nice weather when you get on the track.
Sunday, 12 May 2013
Only in New Zealand
You might see a sandwich like that for lunch: french fries between 2 white bread slices.
It was organized by a kiwi during my 2 weeks of grape picking in Cromwell.
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