Iain's Great Adventure - Te Araroa

Garmin Connect Garmin Connect Happy birthday to ME Happy birthday to ME Happy birthday to MEEEEE Happy Birthday to ME Early start as planned for another long day 29km to Boyle village. Thought it would be good to have internet access and phone service to connect with family and friends today. Did I mention it's my birthday. Birthday breakfast was a bit lame. I had forgot I my breakfasts were in the supply bag I was supposed to collect at maling pass carpark. Oh well a baroca, coffee and energy bar will have to do. Made up for it at lunch time with miso soup and avocado on crackers. Set me up for the 13km this afternoon. Looking forward to pizza at Boyle village and I may also have a bottle of wine waiting to help celebrate. Yes my birthday. Thanks to the waiau pass team if they made it to hamner and home.

Garmin Connect Garmin Connect Sandflies had not mysteriously vanished overnight. Quick breakfast and fast pack to get moving in the morning. 9km to the maling pass carpark for the team to return to St Arnaud, and me to progress on my own. We arrived in good time for the noon pickup, but no sign of the cars. I traded some items to help me on my way, for $5 donations. - toilet paper (Kristen) - miso soup (Galloway's) - lollies (Anna) - avocado & salted cashews (Niki) - wasabi peas (Kerry) - tuna packet (Dave) I will donate $30 to mental health. At 1pm I decided to head onward with the hope their ride would arrive soon and get them to hamner springs for some well deserved treats. As well as the promise of dropping a bottle of wine to Boyle village for me. Which could be a very welcome surpise for my birthday. But first I need to make it to Anne hut, which was another 20km. I did make it. I am writing this from there, after a 29km day. Biggest yet, but was the

Garmin Connect This was the big day, getting over the waiau pass. We could see the route from the camp and knew it was straight up.. this picture does not do it justice. +400m climb up to 1870m. It was a steady slog, but we made it in good time. We found some snow at the top, Dale couldn't resist a snow angle and making some yellow snow. We also celebrated with a whisky slushy. A bit good, although regretted a little on the tricky downhill that followed. Waiau cocktail 🥃 Whisky (Not tonic) 🍦mountain slushy ice 🏔️ 1870m above sea level The down was hard and the sun was hot. A very long day to reach Caroline creek bivy. (3km short of planned hut destination). Nice camp site with way too many sandflies. Had a fire to try to control the sandflies while we eat, helped to just about make it bearable. When I did get into my tent it sounded like it was raining. The sandflies bouncing between the fly sheet and the inner tent. 

Garmin Connect Garmin Connect Left west Sabine hut a bit later than planned.. no surprise there. Continued to follow the river up to the blue lake. Lovely lunch stop under some trees next to the lake. The lake was in fact blue and very clear. The water leaving the lake is very cold. Tried to soak the legs but couldn't stay in for long. Continued onto lake Constance. It was a hard climb up then some more up and downs before reaching the head of the lake and our camp for the night. A moss bed at the edge of the lake, once cleared of goose poo provided a very comfy pitch for the tents. No toilet up here. Initially tried to avoid call of nature, but couldn't hold out. I have been so regular every morning. Very happy with my squat. Which I have not had the pleasure of since rafting the Clarence river. 

Garmin Connect Delayed departure from St Arnaud by one day so I could go with the team wairua - Iain's pass support crew. Was a good choice. Got to cruise across lake rotorau to the Sabine hut alongside The General. What a fine water craft. The team on the jetty before the walk begins. Special thanks for Anna and Kirsten for organisations.. and Dave, Peter, Dale, Kerry, Niki and Holly for joining me on the section of the TA. From the Sabine hut we walked to west Sabine. A beautiful walk. A bit easier than taking the Travis traverse. That will have to keep for another trip. West Sabine hut was full, as were most of the camp spots. We managed to find a few spots beneath the trees and setup for the night with kitchen by the river. Great night under canvas, first since QC.