Drowned rats

We were having fun, honest!

We awoke during the night to the sound of rain on the roof. The bivvy was the length of one bunk plus the width of the other. The width was equal to the length of one bunk. It always sounds worse on a tin roof, especially in a small space.

Our morning ritual is out to the long drop loo, then I put the gas cooker on to heat some water for a herb tea. While we drink that more water heats for the concoction of instant porridge, nuts, dried fruit, protein powder etc I make. We start to pack.

Then it's eat breakfast while more water heats for coffee. Packing continues while coffee is drunk. Final ablutions, packing, cleaning the bench, standing mattresses up on their edge (leaving flat doesn't allow air to circulate) and sweeping the floor.

A final couple of photos of the bivvy and goodbyes to yesterday's friendly South Island Robin and we were off.

It's challenging terrain, more so when wet. I slipped off a rock but my pack took the brunt of the rock rather than my tail bone. JT slipped over in the river the parts that dunked were mostly wet already.

If you're warm underneath your jacket it's fine. Add in wind though and it's the killer. We took short breaks to boost our concentration, have a drink and refuel. The rain was either little more than steady drizzle or the more persistent variety.

As we arrived back at the Hawdon Shelter where the car was parked, another vehicle left. They'd been in the shelter and had lit the fire. We changed in relative comfort. As we left the rain was heavier and we were glad to be out of it.

Coffee and cake followed at Flock Hill Station on the way home. An excellent trip with my mate :-)

Now the clean up begins before I do it all over again next weekend ;-)