I came to Havelock because my tramping book says this is the best place to start the Nydia track. I didn't think I would be here for a week.
I started off by going to the two hostels in town and asking about directions. Neither were too helpful, but I went back to the first one to talk to a guy who was working there. He had said he was interested in the track, but like me, thought it was too expensive to get to and from the track's end. After talking it over we decided that if we both drove our cars to the far end of the track and then drove back into town to take the water taxi to the start of the track, then that would be the cheapest way to do it. Taking the water taxi was only 20 bucks per person. Hiring a car to the far end would be about $70, which is way to freaking much.
So we decided to walk the track together and camp out for the one night we'd be under the stars. The track is about 15k (9 miles) each day and it was relatively easy. We each had too much stuff, but we were prepared for pretty much anything.
We had heard that here was a lodge/hostel on the track, but that the owners were away on vacation. We figured we could pitch our tents there anyway, and maybe sleep on the porches or something.
We found the campsite and it was huge. Long story short, we set up our tents and realized that some people were camping here. We waited a few minutes for them to get back, and they turned out to be DOC (forest service) hunters who were culling goats in the area. They were cool and (this is a big deal) they let us use the kitchen and even one of the bunkhouses for the night. We woke up to a serious frost on the ground. If not for them it would have been a long cold night.
After breakfast, we started walking. The second day of the trek is much harder than the first, there were lots of downed trees and the path wasn't as smooth.
Overall it was a perfect one night hike
I'll be honest, I'm writing this a good number of days since the walk, and the details are not coming as fast and detaily as I always intend. Not to mention the other crazy adventures I've had.
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| havelock |
2 comments:
have you had any local wine?
all these landscape shots and you two hiking make me think LoTR. check your feet.(getting big and hairy?) stay off the road at night. that's all i'm saying....
seriously, you are turning into a mountain man. i love that. rick bibby- you passed that gene on. didn't come from me!
local wine is lost on me. i don't know shit about wine. but i'm trying to find a place to learn.
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