Day 1
Perfect.
A kind gentleman Justin (?) took me up the Esk valley and I had a short wait there before Michael picked me up and delivered me to the prawn farm bridge with great conversation along the way.
I had deliberately packed heavy as I want things to fail early if they are going to (both me and gear). The walk beside the river down to below the Aratiatia rapids took a couple of hours and both the gear and me made it without any problems. Interestingly I found an old track that has been abandoned from the top lookout to the power station. Looks like the guys servicing the bait stations are using it. A lot of concrete stairs and slabs but most slipping away unfortunately. A quick chat with the huka jet folk gave me directions to the best get in place.
I tried to load an image here but it failed so hopefully I'll be able to when I get a better data connection 😔
The transition took over an hour but will obviously get quicker as I get a few more under my belt.
Bliss is the sensation of ticking off km being swept along and like most river travel even though I know it is farmland or forest out of the valley it is tranquil and beautiful in it.
Found a great campsite and looking forward to perhaps finding the squeeze tomorrow... The mist is forming on the river as night sets in, mallards nattering otherwise silence.
All in all a fantastic day. I will be looking forward to my next Firepot Porcini Mushroom Risotto.