TA Day 59

TA Day 59: Saturday 15 February 2025

Camp Bay Campsite - Schoolhouse Bay Campsite

Today we shared one package of noddles for breakfast!

Our plan was then to walk 10 km to a restaurant for a brunch, which we did. We reached Furneaux Lodge where we ordered a venison steak and chicken from the lunch menu. Nice food, but quite small and expensive here too.

While we sat here, Lukas and Klara showed up!

Remember them? One of the Czech couples that we met on our very first day, and then again saw briefly in Methven. Now they were here! Kim had been messaging with Klara the days before and knew they were roughly one day behind, but now they had finally caught up to us :)

This was their second last day on trail, as they were only hiking the South Island.

We talked to them over a coffee, some ice cream and hot chocolate. Then they wanted to keep moving, but we would see each other again in the evening, because we would stay at the same campsite.

We stayed longer and Kim spent some time trying to book the ferry from Picton to Wellington since our boat taxi for tomorrow (Ship Cove to Picton) had just been confirmed.

Unfortunately there was a problem with booking the ferry, and the first time our money was drawn but no tickets were sent to us, and since we needed to be sure we had tickets before we continued our hike (we hadn't had cell service today, but had Wi-Fi here), we booked again and then sent customer service a message, hoping it would sort itself out somehow and we could get our money back later.

Because of all this, and that it took so much time, as well as some other miscommunication, we got into a fight and both of us were sad and couldn't talk to each other for some time, but we kept hiking.

After some time of walking, it got a little bit better. In the evening when we came to Schoolhouse Bay we met up with Lukas and Klara again and pitched our tent beside theirs. We arrived late so all other reasonable spots were already taken.

We sat by the table and talked, had a small meal and ate a lot of snacks while shooing away some curious wekas. The sun set, and after Lukas went for a swim in the ocean and Kim cleaned herself, Lukas went to show Lukas and Klara some glow worms.

We also tried to look for bioluminescence again since this was our last chance, but no, nothing this time either 😔

Today's:

Distance: 22.40 km

Ascent: 581 m

Descent: 583 m

Tent nights: 40/59

Weather: Sunny and hot