Jumbo-Holdsworth Day 3

Half the hut were up at 6am for an early depature to catch a flight home to Timaru. But the ramining 6 of us slept in to 7:30ish before slowly getting out of bed, some breakfast and repack everything. The day was absolutly beautiful with hardly a cloud in the sky. Today was all one thing, downhill and in parts were near vertical which wasn't the best on the knees but I guess this was outweighed by the amazing bust with the sun filtering through. Andrew and Kevin went first as they knew they were slower (as Kevin had bad knees), Carlie and myself walked together and Tony and Jo went leisurely at the back. Carlie and myself were first to make it to the bottom (where Atiwhakatu hut is) where we waited for everyone else to catch up. The rest of the trip was reasonably flat in comparison but the views down the river were spectacular. But before we knew it we were back at the Holdsworth Lodge signing out and throwing packs into the car. Carlie caught a ride back to Petone train station with me as the other 2 were going mountain biking (well Tony was - bloody energizer bunny!!). After an hour of non-stop talking I was dropping her off at the train station and heading back to camp to get my kitchen unit. Oh and have a shower, mmmn showers feel so good after 3 days of sweating! Now, whats for dinner?

Jumbo-Holdsworth Day 2

Awake at 6:30am to the sound of birds chirping, then out of bed around 7am with a few photos, some weetbix and a slow cold packup and I was on the trail just after 8am. The walk/climb to Powell Hut was a bit of a grind but got good cellphone reception on the way up so got to have a good chat to Emma which lifted spirits a lot. The views form a rocky outcrop nearing the edge of the treeline were beautiful (looking back across the Rimutakas and across to Wellington in the far distance. After an hour or so of fast paced tramping I arrived at Powell hut, signed the guest book, took some more pics and moved on. Next was the climb to Mt Holdsworth (only a vertical height gain of 270m from Powell Hut but it felt a lot more!) I could see people on the top of Holdsworth so raced to catch them, I did just just as they were leaving and beginning the traverse across to Jumbo. So I had a quick bite to eat (pita bread and that plastic cheese like McD's use) on the summit of Holdsworth before catching up to the three (who were the three that went past me at 10pm last night). They were more than happy for me to walk with them as they too were going to Jumbo hut for the night. We took a leisurely pace to the summit of Jumbo (1405m) and I found out their names (Tony, Jo & Carlie). We quickly descended to Jumbo Hut, claimed our beds, had lunch (well they did), had a nap (once again they did while I attempted my diabolical sudoku). Just after 3:30pm 4 of us (Toni, myself, Andrew and Carlie) decided to go walk to a plane crash site on shingle slip knob but after looking at a dodgy ridgeline just below Angle Knob we decided not to go there. We motored back to Jumbo Hut and arrived back at 6:30pm making a nice 3hr return trip. Dinner was a back country cuisine then time to complete my sudoku, chat to everyone and hit the sack.

Jumbo-Holdsworth Day 1

Awake and up before 7am to get everything packed away and into the car as I will not be back at camp until Sunday afternoon. Tech was ok today, learned how to do arc welding (when I say learn how to, we get a basic instruction and some 'birdshit' looking welds). The whole morning was spent welding, some Lamb Rogan Josh for tea and then into the workshop for the afternoon (floor waste gullies and then mucked around with my lobster back bend). We were let out of class 15mins early today which was great as I got to beat most of the traffic, arriving at the Holdsworth lodge around 5:40pm. I was slightly pissed off about now as I had managed to hit a hawk on the was there and damn near smashed my wing mirror off the car (at least it didnt come through the windscreen). Anyway I quickly changed clothes, put my pack on and hit the trail. It was a bit of a hard slog to mountain house but made it there by 7:20pm, had some dinner and setup bed for the night (however should have moved on to the much nicer Powell Hut for the night). About 9pm that night I was startled by a group of 5 trampers heading for Powell Hut, then a few mins later I was rudely awoken (and freaked out) by a huge fucking rat that jumped on me!!! after that I was not wanting to go back to sleep. Then at 10pm awoken (sort of, I was not really sleeping) by 3 more trampers heading for Powell Hut (why didn't I join them?). The rest of the night was a terrible sleep with the head torch on all night to try and discourage mr rat from coming back.

The Journey Begins....

Today began at an early 6:50am (well early for a sunday anyway!). I got out of bed, had breakfast, washed up and threw the remaining things in the car and was on the road by 7:30am. The drive to Picton went well with only a brief stop in Kaikoura to use the toilet, then battle through some rain and finally arrive in Picton about 11:30am. Some lunch in Picton then join the lines of cars waiting to board the 1:15pm sailing of the interislander. I began the sailing in the kids area but shortly went outside and sat on the sun deck for the remainder of the journey (level 10 of the Kaitaki). The sun was so strong but the wind was bitterly cold! I arrived in Wellington about 4:30pm, disembarked and headed for Hutt Park Top 10 where I setup camp which will be home for the next couple of weeks.

Last post for a while?

Well today was spent packing or getting things ready for going to Wellington. I can't believe how much stuff I took. For 2 weeks I managed to completely fill the boot and backseat of my car. However in my defense I am camping and doing 2 tramps while away so there is a lot of extra crap there. But this is just a quick post to say bye for now and will write when I get home (unless I can get to an internet cafe in town or something).

Wellington here I come

Well its only a few days now and I will be off to Wellington again for block course number 2. Leaving Sunday morning, driving to Picton and catching the ferry across to Welly. I am actually quite excited to go again, it sucks being away from Emma and stuff but I have a few things planned so it should be good fun. Since I am only going to be there one weekend I figured I might do a tramp up there since I don't get that opportunity very often. I have decided to do the Holdsworth-Jumbo circuit in Tararua Forest Park. Then on the way home I will be parking up just outside Kaikoura and doing the My Fyffe tramp (nice easy one), well all that is weather permitting, so fingers crossed its going to be nice! Nothing else to report, just the same ol shit with work and chores. Until next time....