Gloomy Southland weather.
As bleak as can be without actually raining.
Super thick clouds.
My head torch having suffered some issue that I’d been unable to resolve by candlelight, I stumbled out to the toilet while still dark. Just after 6 am. Candles are not the best form of lighting for this activity. Outdoors they just affect night vision, and attempt to blow out.
I found I stepped on some plastic that was flapping in the non-existent breeze.
Nope.
I’d stepped on a wood pigeon.
A wood pigeon!!??
Not good.
Is that where they sleep? On the ground? Not perched on a tree?
Later it appears to have a broken foot, and that does not bode well for its longevity in this climate.
I find I have zero enthusiasm for the biggest day on this track and decide to take it easy for a change. Have the rest day I had programmed in for Westies.
Clearly it would be better to sit around in the hut, get the fire going. Plenty of food with that spare day up my sleeve. I could spend more if I wanted, having trudged in with an extra couple of day’s supplies.
No great hurry.
And my long-distance weather forecast, now quite old, indicated that the weather was supposed to clear up tomorrow for a few days.
Yeah, a whole bundle of nothing for the day.
That sounds like a plan.
A guide to the night’s accommodation: Waitutu Hut
