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return from the bush

Can I really say I was “roughing it” when I stayed in huts equipped with running water (cold only), flush toilets (mostly), gas burners and foam mattresses?

inside a hutwhere we slept

Well – maybe not – but still, no electricity, Internet, showers, newspapers or telephones for three days …

The Heaphy was a good tramp — saw a lot of lush bush, exotic fauna (or was that flora?) and beautiful birds. Learned a new game of cards from an Italian girl while playing with her, two Germans, an Ozzie and a Californian.

It wasn’t hard, compared to some of the pushing-your-limits stuff I’ve done with Dylan, with the two-hour cardio climbs up mountains that leave you panting and your heart racing within minutes. This was generally level, taking the route of old Maori trail using in the greenstone trade. Still, seven hours of walking while carrying a heavy pack left me rather sore each night. And my legs are COVERED with bugbites.

Got to see a weka and heard the nocturnal “morepork, morepork, morepork” cry of the morepork. Also the highpitched cries of what we believe was a kiwi.

Took a bunch of photos, but will likely have to wait until next weekend to download them from the camera’s Memory Stick. (update: they’re here).

Up next: sea kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park. After that I fly to Wellington for the weekend, where I hope to see New Zealand take on Australia in the cricket. (Australia is No. 1 and NZ No. 2 in the world rankings, or so I’m told…)

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