Start – Hurunui Hut
Finish – Hurunui #3 Hut
Daily Distance – 9 km
TA Distance – 2147 km
It is funny watching the reaction of different nationalities when looking out the window in the morning
and seeing rain falling. Americans typically refuse to change their plans no matter and grim faced, stride
boldly out into it, the masters of nature. The English, through years of selective breeding and “BBQ
summers”, are generally unfazed by drizzle, but anything heavier needs full rain gear and many cups of
tea to steel the nerves before venturing out. The French simply go back to bed, or sit around in a convivial
huddle of Gallic sangfroid, content to wait for brighter weather. My personal favourite reaction belongs to
the Kiwis though. Rather than tolerate wind, rain and mud, they seem to thrive on it. Tell a Kiwi that a
path is a rooty, boggy, mess infested with legions of sandflies and with no more than smile and a “Sweet
as, bro” he’ll be off like a shot to revel in its awfulness. I fervently believe that if the average Kiwi had a
choice between walking along a gentle path replete with picnic benches and scenic views, or tramping
through the deepest bush to a nest of adders, there would be snake soup on the menu for dinner every
time!
The above characterisations are a roundabout way of saying there really isn’t much to note about today. I
waited out the rain until mid-morning and then set out for the half-day walk to the next hut. I had only
planned to reach this hut today anyway as the next hut is a further 6 hours away and I’m not confident of
there being any decent camp spots to split the difference. Also, my decision to carry 12 days worth of
food on this leg is beginning to tell on my knees and shoulders, so only walking a half-day provides some
much needed recovery time.
