Hiking the Queen Charlotte Track
Trip Start
Jun 06, 2006
1
51
83
Trip End
Dec 16, 2006
Picton, New Zealand
Monday, October 9, 2006
Amazing scenery- beautiful rain forests, gorgeous lush valleys, brilliant ocean blues, super posh accomodations, lookouts from where Captian Cook first discovered whats known as The Marlborough Sounds- totally spectacular!
Stared at the end of the trail- took a water taxi out to the trail head at mile marker 71- made it to mile mile marker 21 in 3 days.... the final leg of the trip was just farm lands so I felt like I completed what I set out to do ...and I am very pleased with my journey. It become such a personal challange as well because after I braved a massive storm on the second day that left me drenched and num to the bone I didn't think I would continue- but the next morning blue skies and bright sunshine carried me home!
A friend asked me what did you think about while hiking alone for more than 8 hours a day.... and all I could say was -EVERYTHING!! Literally- there isn't a thought that doesn't run through your mind- reflections of the past and visions of the future- so many thoughts that made me smile and even laugh out loud- and of course those deep interspective moments! I sang almost every song I know and if I wasn't admiring every plant, fern and tree, I was so focused on a hot cup of coffee that the time flew by quite quickly!
I also realized on this hike that I can take a break from climbing mountains for a little while- well atleast unitl South America!
