Got up at
4:30 and left the backpackers at 6:00 when everyone was asleep. Waning crescent
moon was hidden behind the cloud. Walked in the pitch-darkness with my head
torch on for 1 hour. Putting on and off my rain jacket as it drizzled
occasionally, walked comfortably as it was mostly fine with some clouds.
From
9:00 firing shell noise constantly came from Tekapo Military camp on the right
for more than an hour and tranquility of the morning was completely
destroyed... what a pity. Went on first 30km half sealed/unsealed flat road
along the cannel and a bike track along the Lake Pukaki next. Was not a pain to
walk a long distance at all because it was easy with a beautiful scenery all the
way.
Only have seen a few anglers but no cyclists though the most of way was shared
with Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail. Must have already been off-season for cyclists,
too? Had to make a detour to avoid a road work section.
Arrived at Pines
Campsite after 15:00 as having started early today. Other campers were
travelling on camper vans or cars. Toilet was clean but no water - took and
filtered some water from the lake. Went to bed early at 21:00 as being truly
tired. Walked 9 hours, 42km.
4:30に起き、まだ寝静まったままの宿を6:00に出発。新月が近い三日月は雲に隠れ、漆黒の闇の中、ヘッドランプの明かりを頼りに約1時間進む。時々雨がパラつくのでレインコートを着たり脱いだりだったが、基本的には雲が多めの晴天で気持ちよく歩けた。
しかし、9:00頃から右手のテカポ軍事演習場の方角から砲弾射撃のような音が1時間以上に亘って断続的に響いてきて、平和な朝の静寂が台無しになったのは残念。初めの30kmは、舗装・未舗装半々ぐらいの、運河沿いの平坦な道。そのあとはプカキ湖畔のサイクルロードと、ずっと歩きやすく、距離こそ長いもののずっと美しい景色が続くので、思ったほど苦にもならなかった。
道のりの大半が人気のアルプス・トゥ・オーシャン・サイクル・トレイルとの共用にだったにも拘らず、釣り人数人に会った他はサイクリスト一人通らない。サイクリングも既にオフ・シーズンなのだろうか？
途中で工事のため、多少迂回させられたりもしたものの、早く出発した甲斐あって15:00過ぎには予定ていたパインズ・キャンプ場に到着。他のキャンパーはキャンピングカーなど車で来ている人ばかりだ。トイレは清潔だが水場がないので、湖の水をフィルターで濾過して使う。さすがに疲れたので少し早めの21:00就寝。本日の歩行9時間、42km。
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