What a difference a day makes.
Yesterday — perfect.
Today, well, rain for a start, cold.
There was a strange sighting en route, after passing a junction in the track I looked back, way back, and saw two horseman with a trailing packhorse heading up to Royal Hut in their Men from Snowy River coats and big horseman hats.
Actually, the rain came about three-quarters of the way to Stone Hut, after I’d spent some time talking to a German couple who are doing a short day, just the two hours to Royal. We discussed the implications of the weather forecast: a quick front to move through today with this rain and then four sunny days.
Suddenly I realised I could do a similar short day, what’s the hurry?
Four creek crossings to rinse my socks, and I was ready to call it a day.
Stone Hut is a similar hut to Royal, eight bunks, spacious, this time with a stone end to the hut as a fire surround rather than concrete, a concrete floor, rather smashed up, but overall, you have to say it’s a hut with a great ambience.
Nina, a woman from Guatemala, stopped in for lunch and a two-hour chat. She had camped last night in the rain and managed to dry off somewhat before heading out into the wet.
I spent the afternoon eating. I had my standard small lunch on arrival and managed, err, three dinners in the course of the afternoon; I’m clearly hungry.
So, it’s not such a big day; the rain is happening lightly. I hope it stops before the Rangatata fills up.
Now it’s time for bed.
A guide to the night’s accommodation: Stone Hut
