To the Mountains!
Today, I shall start the Routeburn Track; 32 beautiful kilometres through the mountain pass between the Aspiring and Fjordland National Parks. I do not yet know how I’m getting there. I’m sure it will work out.
As it turns out, a lovely Canadian girl called Sarah from my hostel is doing the same thing, but she has found some people on Couch Surfers to give her a lift. Just before I leave, I discover that a friend of mine in Queenstown, Eva, has also just returned from dropping one of her friends off at the Routeburn track too!
Madness. A bus to the track and back will cost me $160!
There are some things in life for which one has to pay. Ferrying oneself to a walking track and back again, however, is not one of them. I resolve, therefore, to hitch hike. I wil make it there and back for free, or not at all.
THUS THE GUILD!
First, however, I need to do some shopping. I have heard there is neither food nor water along the route, so I buy the following:
A loaf of rye bread
Some shredded ham and chicken
Three smalls pies
Two dehydrated meals – cottage pie and lamb with vegetables
Two Mars bars
Six litres of water
A slice of cake (naturally)
This should suffice for three days and could stretch to four if I spend longer than expected taking bleak and honouable photographs. I will be eating a lot of bread and ham, however. Thus the Gamesters.
Half an hour with my thumb in the air gets me a ride from Queenstown to Glenorchy, the nearest village to the track. My ride is in a small blue van with an excellent man named Charlie, who runs an open mic night in Queenstown every Tuesday. I hope to be back in time for the next one!
Now I am in Glenorchy, the hitch hiking is slim. It is 26km from the start of the track… It looks like my Routeburn adventure has just doubled in distance. Ah well.