After my mozzie-disturbed night at Belltown, it was no surprise that I had an excellent sleep.
The hut was very damp after some gloomy days and plenty of drizzle, and so were my tent, sleeping bag, and clothes. With the massive quantity of dry firewood from the enlargement of the helicopter landing area, I did something unusual.
Lit a fire.
That also got rid of the paper and cardboard dumped in the fireplace, as well as the wet remnants of the previous fire.
Didn’t take long before most of my things were dry, particularly my tent and clothes. Also permeated with the aroma of a smokey fire.
But I might as well do some washing as well, as my shirt was covered in a mixture of mud and grime. There was soap, a big bowl, and a choice of scrubbing brush in the hut, so that was a further incentive.
Those tasks, as well as drinking a few cups of coffee, occupied much of the morning.
After lunch, I attacked the semi-blunt aze with a fine file. I felt a case of chopping coming on with all that wood in the woodshed.
I also took to the track crossing the clearing with some regrowth that didn’t make it obvious.
But much of the time was spent on my bunk reading, which is a great occupation for Sunday afternoon. Smelt and then saw a billygoat down by the stream.
All in all, I can’t say it was entirely productive, but that’s what I really needed.
After the washing, my clothes looked much better, so I hoped I ould keep them that way for a few days.
The weather forecast, now more than a week old, was for rain overnight until lunchtime, well, showers more like it, but I think I’ll move onto Helicopter Flat Hut the next day, unless it was raining heavily at 6 am.
I really enjoyed hanging out at the hut, but I’ve other places I needed to be soon, like my own bed, and eating fresh food. It’s been a long summer, but it’s almost time to get more social.
And get back to work.
I was hoping for an early start even though the track has been fully marked and cut since I did an extended bush bash from here two years ago. My day off might give me some more zip, but it should help progress to get out on the Wangapeka Track, which has a more even gradient.
At 5 pm, some rain was coming down and I hoped it moved through in a hurry.
Oh, that was now proper rain.
A guide to the night’s accommodation: Kākāpo Hut
