I started the day by having coffee with some friends of mine from New Plymouth who were on holiday in Queenstown with their 2 lovely children. We hadn’t caught up in person for 3 years so we had lots to talk about. Nine year old, Amelia, was quite interested in why I wanted to walk so far and they were not really impressed by my food choices.
I carried on walking alongside the great Kake Wakitipu until I reached Frankton which is a massive shopping area. I had some lunch then decided that the mostly road walk to Arrowtown was not necessary as it was 26 degrees with no wind. Passing through a golf course showed how dry it is here.
I noticed how few planes and helicopters there were compared to when I was here pre Covid-19. Although there are quite a few kiwis out on holiday they will never make the numbers that came from overseas.
So I hopped on a bus and $4 and 20 minutes later I had saved myself a 4 hour walk and reduced my chances of getting skin cancer.
$26 gives me a tent site next to 2 Dads camping with their 14 and 16 month old toddlers, giving their wives a break. These modern Dads are amazing.
I did a bit of shopping for the next section and was planning on eating up the last bits and pieces in my food bag for the last supply fir my dinner. A lovely family must have felt sorry for me and shared a nice fresh salad and chicken with me. Kiwis are good people.
Tomorrow Kay arrives to walk the best section with me as she missed it last year . I am looking forward to giving some company during the day. This section goes from Arrowtown, another tourist destination out to Macetown whuch us an abandoned Gold town. Then over the Motatapu Track for 4 days ending in Wanaka.
