Country Mouse and Shadow's Travels: Cookie Monster

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Cookie Monster

February 9th - Day 31
I forgot to mention yesterday that we have completed the Otago section of the trail and have now entered Canterbury. One thing is for sure out here and that is you never know what your going to get. The description said that today would take our navigation to the next level and it did. Few trail markers and no trail all day. After while I enjoyed it. No longer did some else decide how we would navigate through. No longer were we a slave to the constant fear that we lost the trail and took the wrong one. We followed the topographic map and made our way through.
It was hot and dry today just like the past few days. Dehydration is a big concern. We just can't drink enough. Most breaks we take our shirts off and dip them in the water along with our hat and handkerchief. It makes for instant air conditioning.
We headed through a wide valley that continued to narrow as the day went on. We followed the East Ahuriri River to it's humbled beginning deep between two mountain ranges with rockslides that came all the way down to the water's edge. Next we climbed out of that valley and across tussock grass country. It's the worst to walk in. I think I have said this before, but it's like monkey grass, just a lot of it. Miles and miles of it. The grass is tall and thick. It hides the spiky plants that bring blood to your legs (see photo), rocks, and water. Basically you tread lightly so you don't break an ankle.
We finished the long day by another clear flowing creek in a beech grove. The evening shade was nice and perfect spot to soothe our aching feet.
We have a new dessert item. It's a hard cookie we either dip in MILO when it's cold, or smear honey on them when it's hot. Every night I count the cookies left after dinner. Making sure that we have enough for us to each have two every night we are out. It's an important job. These cookies could start a war.