Cache phase complete
What a great spin around the south island that was.
The Acheron cache was quite a mission for my low, front wheel drive Corolla as I slowly made my way over Jollies Pass Rd into the Clarence valley before being stopped by a ford that didn't look inviting.
Stunning country and a nice day - I just hope the pigs don't root out the cache before I get back to enjoy it.
I was a little unsure about where I could leave my larger 'caches' at Bluff in preparation for the Stewart Island explore - the motor camp, a storage facility perhaps... I sought advice from the sports shop in Invercargill mentioned on the Te Araroa website and was pointed toward Freedom Farm - a trail angel chap called Jasper who puts folk up and has a rambling assortment of buildings and gardens on the north edge of Bluff. He welcomed me in with my mad plans and was more than happy to hold my boxes for me until I head south at the end of September.
The caches heading back up to Wanaka all went in without problems and it was great to be welcomed by Mike and Brenda with a Red Thai Curry mmmmmmmmmm!!!! Saturday was a treat with an outing to Cardrona - not without it's technological challenges that were eventually overcome. Windy and busy with the school holidays but stunning vistas in this alpine environment that I rarely venture into.
Four more caches were put in as I headed north with the Arthurs pass being particularly challenging with rocky terrain. Was great to drive up the north side of the Rangitata into country I was unfamiliar with.
The weather played the game with a calm crossing back to the North Island and an invitation to a scrabble game with good friend Jane.
I am in two minds as I write this - I really want to get started to make the trip proper begin but the forecast of a wintry cold blast coming through this coming weekend may delay proceedings...