Got up
at 6:00. Firstly, checked Canterbury Regional Council's website for water lever
of rivers and Metservice for weather forecast at the free PC of the hostel. River was still very high and over 20mm of rainfall was expected until after
midday. Gave up walking the mountain path over Goat Pass that includes
dangerous river crossings, and decided to make a detour walk along State Highway
instead.
Left my big pack at the hostel, and tried to hitch a ride at 8:00. 10 minutes later, Magdalene, a local mum of 2 kids, gave me a lift, and drove 22km
towards the point where I've finished 3 days ago (27th) having a nice talk with
her sons Arsha and Saskia in the rear seat. Her husband was a DOC ranger
working at Arthurs Pass. Otira river was swollen and looked totally different
from the one I've walked across just 3 days ago.
When starting walking back
State Highway 73 that we have driven now towards Arthurs Pass, drizzle turned into pouring
rain with wind and it became stormy. I must have got stuck if I was walking on
the mountain path.
The State Highway went through steep mountains with a very narrow foot
path. Many large lorries passed by made me scared - especially walking on a
bridge and a viaduct was fearful, because there was no room to keep myself safe
from the traffic there. Had a chance to encounter with weka and kea on the road
walk. There was a nice mountain path for the last 3.5km after going pass the
top of the road and enjoyed the walk comfortably. Took me about 4 hours to walk
22km as not carrying a heavy load on my shoulders.
Walked back to the same
hostel. All other people have left as the weather would improve from the
evening. Thought I would be by myself tonight here. In the evening, a 78 year-old
Japanese Mike Onaga arrived. He tried YHA but it was full and was referred this
hostel there. Mike said he was from Okinawa and lives California, US now. Enjoyed a chat with him till night. Went to bed at 21:30 in order to wake up
early next morning. Walked 4 hours, 22km.
6:00に起き、まず初めにバッパーの無料PCでカンタベリー地方役所のウェブサイトで川の水位、そしてメットサービス（気象サービス）で天気を確認。水位はまだとても高く、今日も昼過ぎまで20mmを超える雨が降るとの予報に、危険な徒渉を重ねるゴート峠越えの山道を歩きのを諦め、国道を歩いて繋ぐことに決めた。
荷物を宿に残し、8:00にヒッチハイク開始。10分ほどで地元に住む二児の母マグダレンさんが乗せてくれ、後部座席の男の子アーシャ、サスキア君達ともおしゃべりしながら、3日前に歩き終えた地点まで22kmを移動。彼女の夫はアーサーズ・パスのDOCのレンジャーらしい。3日前に何度も渡渉したオティラ川を見ると、まるで別の川のように大きくなっている。
今、車で来た国道73号線をアーサーズパスに向かって歩いて戻り始めた時にしとしと降りだった雨は、10:00頃から土砂降りとなり、風も出てきて嵐の様相を呈してきた。険しい山間の道で歩道部分が狭く、大型トラックが多く通るので怖い。特に橋や高架橋を通る時は逃げ場がないので恐ろしかった。
そんな国道歩きでもウェカやキア等に出会え、また峠の最高部を越えた後の残り3.5kmは山道があり、道路を歩かずに快適なトレッキングを楽しめた。軽装だったこともあり、4時間ほどで22kmを歩いて戻り、また同じ宿に泊まる。
夕方から天気が回復した頃もあり、他の宿泊客は皆出て行き、今晩は一人かと思っていたら、夜になって78歳の日本人マイク・オナガさんが到着。YHAが満室でそこから紹介されていたらしい。沖縄出身の人でアメリカ・カリフォルニア在住とか。夜まで楽しくおしゃべりして過ごした。明日は特に早起きすることにして21:30に寝る。本日の歩行4時間、22km。
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