Start – Waiau Hut
Finish – Anne Hut
Daily Distance – 26 km
TA Distance – 2066 km
A day for getting the head up, looking around and having a really good saunter. After days of scrambling
up and down mountains it is as if someone has flicked a switch and transported me to a land of wide open
prairie. I feel almost like I have strayed onto the set of a classic western and any minute John Wayne will
come thundering by atop a white stallion pursuing a tribe of indians. The impression is only reinforced by
the lack of shade, fierce heat and wonderful decking area at the Anne hut. With a blissfully cool breeze,
no sandflies and mountains on every horizon the only thing separating this hut from perfection is a
rocking chair and a banjo.
There is a fine bunch of perhaps 10 TA hikers at the hut tonight. However the place of honour must go to
the group of young Christian backpackers who are out for a short walk of only a few days. There are few
sights like the rapturous delight of a TA hiker offered free food, but free, freshly popped popcorn is on an
entirely different level. It also made the hut smell fantastic.
Tomorrow will mark 100 days on the trail. So much has happened since day 1. I have seen sights that I
only dreamed of. Even more surprisingly, somewhere along the line I have stopped being just a guy out
for a walk and have become part of a trail family encompassing nations from the world over. No matter
