Tramping St James

The blog appears to have become a bit of a tramping journal at present. No apologies for that as apart from work, we are spending most of our free time heading into the hills with large packs on our back. Having worked Easter we had a couple of days off in lieu and so we bookmarked a long weekend for a tramp that would last longer than the standard 2 days. Having not done anything longer before we did not want to tackle anything too extreme and did not want to be faced with a miserable trudge over exposed terrain if the weather closed in. The result was that the decision was made to head up to Lewis Pass and tackle the Saint James Walkway, billed as an easy sub-alpine route that should take 4-5 days to cover the 67km. As soon as it struck 5pm on Wednesday we showered for the last time for a few days and hit the road arriving at our destination around 9:30 and spending the night in a lay-by. Morning came and we were dropped off at the trail head by the Boyle Outdoor Education Centre who then parked the van at theirs securely and ready for us at the end of the track. We had planned the first day to be our longest and suitably the weather was also the best with glorious sunshine showing off the valley and mountain landscape at its best. For the whole 4 days we were walking across gently sloping grassy valleys, through native beech forest and crossed 2 "saddles" that hardly deserved the name. The huts were cosy, although the other couple who we shared 2 nights with insisted on creating a sauna by stocking the fire a bit too well. Although the majority of the land is owned by a private station there is little stock present though wildlife a plenty with horses, geese, ducks, wild pig and of course possum all present in abundance. Unfortunately there were however no fish to be seen so I was unsuccessful despite lugging my rod along though by the final day I was catching noticeably fewer trees! And so it was that by around 11:30 on Sunday morning we arrived back at the van and Gordon took us home without any complaint and only the smallest amount of exhaust smoke.

I should also point out that Sunday marked our first wedding anniversary. I can scarcely believe that a whole 12 months ha gone by especially as we have not really been up to much. Quiting work, visiting 6 new countries over 8 months unemployment, starting to work again and settling in to a new country as well as only our 2nd proper job...you know, the usual!