It has been far too long since I was last out tramping. Even longer since I was out tramping with Marcel. He Mhairi and I had many many trips together this time 2 years ago. Lots of fun. He has admitted that NZ really is the best place to be, unfortunately his PhD keeps him closeted away in Graz. When he gets round to updating his blog I will let you know, as his pictures are always superb.
So the weekend got off to an excellent start. I’d been rabbiting on all day about how I wasn’t going to worry so much any more, and that if my van didn’t start (for example) that I would just cross that bridge when I came to it.
I came to that particular bridge immediately as the battery was quite dead. Fortunately about 2 minutes later Don one of the great ppl in 39 Fendalton had jump started my car. I think the radio had been left on. Still, something to look into.
Anyways, drove Northwards up through Lewis pass, camping in the van for the first time ever just north of Maruia Springs.
Then on to Nelson Lakes. It’s an area I’ve not really explored very much, and Lake Angelus was a trip I’ve been wanting to do for a while as it was one that Mhairi’s parents had suggested to her, and that she had quite enjoyed. And I figured if it’s good enough for them it couldn’t be completely awful ;)
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It’s a stunning area. Glaciated valleys & tarns left right and centre. At least I think that’s the formation anyway. There’s a picture above of the old Mt. Robert ski-field. Sadly no longer used… a taste of what’s happening in Europe this winter?!
We were lucky enough to grab the last two bunks in the overfull DOC hut. It’s not usually that bad – but this being one of the more popular great (but not Great) walks.. it’s understandable. Sharing our biccies and cheese & blocks of chocolate soon won us friends. Bribery really is a wonderful thing.
We paid tribute to our missing comrade by drinking the minestrone soup (one of the two packets) I had been sent for Christmas. Then an early enough sleep for me (after playing some weird dice game called 10,000 for those who know it).
The next morning dawned bright and sunny. I wish. Oh no, this area is not renowned for it’s sunny days. It did dawn though, and it didn’t rain, and it did clear up. Marcel not to be put off by mere clouds dragged me kicking and screaming (he’s bigger than I am) off to try to find the mythical Lake Rotoroa. I think he just wanted to explore clouds from the inside.
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Unfortunately the several hundred meters of cloud didn’t lift straight away for us, so it was time to call it a day and start heading down the cascade track towards Coldwater hut & the van (parked on a hill facing towards the exit just in case…)
Cascade track really is aptly named, and the beech forest afterwards really is beautiful.
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Cold-water hut really isn’t all that cold.. at least I was roasting by the time I got there so a quick dip was called for. Marcel contented himself with paddling his feet. The ducks no doubt thought it was feeding time, but once they got a whiff of his socks cleared out pretty fast. At least I think it was that that made them run away…
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The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful really, some lovely pohutukawa trees. They’re called the Christmas Tree tree over here. And you can see why.
Then Marcel almost taking a real shower
before it was time to head back to ChCh. We stopped off at Sylvia flats on the way home to give the sandflies a little snack… all in all an excellent excellent weekend. I do miss having Marcel and his boundless energy and enthusiasm around for tramping trips!
Finally.. Marcel is almost a tee-totaler, and I did my best by mixing him a really quite nice G&T; (Bombay Sapphire Gin no-less). He did try it (which was a start), and even drank about 1cm before leaving the glass down and asking to be driven home. Sigh. At least I tried!
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