Day 112 - a vastness

Manuka hut —-> Geraldine holiday park

33km walk + 91km shuttle

With yesterday’s atrocities firmly behind us we were determined to keep better spirits today.

We were out the door at 6.55am (a trail record I think) and headed into a misty morning, the clouds refusing to budge from the base of the mountains.

We had a big distance to cover today and we were on a deadline. We would end the day at the edge of the Rangitata river where we’d be picked up, driven to Geraldine for the night and then driven to the trailhead on the other side of the river the following morning. We needed to be at the pick up spot by 4pm.

Thankfully the 30 odd km was mainly on the flat, along 4WD tracks that took us through farmland past lake Emily…

…and then through stunning conservation land. We felt like tiny specs as we walked though the vast valley.

By mid afternoon, we had made good enough time to have earned a mini afternoon nap in the sunshine.

The final few km lead us to the edge of the Potts river which flowed into the Rangitata in the distance.

We climbed down and crossed over the river just as our ride Wayne pulled into the car park.

A 90 minute drive later and we were setting up our tent at Geraldine holiday park. We had a wander around the town as it got dark but it didn’t feel particularly welcoming. A pub owner came to the door as we were looking at their menu outside and told us they were fully booked and we should give up trying to eat anywhere in town without a booking. “It was the weekend after all” she had remarked. We walked two doors down and got a table at the local Indian immediately.