tramping new zealand

The last three times I left Rakiura, I always had a feeling I might have had my last spin around the North West Circuit.

Maybe because the track is getting much more traffic recently, and it’s not so pleasant underfoot. Winter used to be depleted of hikers, but that has changed over the years, and there are people to share huts with, even in midwinter. There may be fewer in September/October, but otherwise, people are prone to pop up.

My spin during the Auckland lockdown in 2021 wasn’t so afflicted.

The first, second, and third nights involved splendid company, but after that, I was on my own for the next 16 days.

Not only did I not have company, but there was little possibility that anyone would turn up, with the rest of the country constrained by Level 4 restrictions. There wasn’t even anyone at North Arm Hut on the Rakiura Track on my last night.

That circumstance will never repeat.

It was still dark at 8 am when the ferry pulled away from the wharf.

This time, I really felt like there was unfinished business. I could cope with the Southern Circuit once again, which generally gets fewer feet over it, at least in winter.

But this ten-day chapter was over. Back to civilisation.

However, the weather forecast was poor for three or so days, and I decided to stay in Invercargill for that duration to avoid driving in the predicted heavy rain.

Between the raindrops, I concentrated on accumulating steps on the flat asphalt.

My leg was feeling okay.

It appears that elevating it for half the day was a significant factor in making a difference.