3RY Update Part:

5

Date:

1st March ‘19

Day:

38

Title:

Erewhon?

KM Mark Start:

2314

Start Location:

Crooked Spur Hut

KM Mark Finish:

2305

Finish Location:

Potts Lodge

Actual KM today:

30

Weather:

Sunny!

General:

Rangitata Danger Zone – check!

Stoked to have that box ticked and the Rangitata River section behind me.

Started the morning walking down Bush Stream, in between Mount Brabazon and Mount Sinclair. When I eventually hit the Rangitata River I wanted to collect a resupply package (10 days worth of supplies) I’d previously sent through to Mesopotamia Station, around 3km south of where I exited the ranges.

At Mesopotamia there is a plaque with names in memory of those from Mesopotamia who fell in the 1914-1918 War.

Another plaque marks the historic site of Samuel Butlers Homestead 1861…now a quaint little school. Samuel Butler originally founded Mesopotamia and wrote the famous fantastical Satire Erewhon. They say this is ‘Nowhere’ spelt backwards…buuuuut, it’s not.

A strangely eerie place but very cool to visit.

From here I left the official trail again…I needed to get across the Rangitata River. This is a section that is considered a no-go zone. (Anyone that’s doing the TA and considering this, I recommend you don’t. I had a number of safety measures in place that made it possible, including people keeping watch onshore).

I had spent some time picking a line to cross the braided river and went for it. There were a few deeper sections but the weather had been kind to me over the last few days so I managed the crossing without too much drama.

When I arrived at my final destination (Mt Potts Lodge), I was pleasantly surprised. I had imagined a farm house and a field for my tent. There was a bar, cafe and bunk rooms…”Yup, start a tab please mate”.

Body/Health:

Achilles and feet quite tender. I’m hoping they’ll loosen up.

Outlook:

Happy to get that section done. Now looking forward to the Rakaia River Crossing

Tune of the Day:

Paranoid – Black Sabbath

Day 38 Images: