TA Day 5: Monday 23 December 2024

Colac Bay - Martin's Hut

The day started with another road walk. Just 5 km though which felt okay. But the speed limits are very high here and most cars dont slow down for hikers, so it's not great...

Once we left the road we were soon at the start of Longwood Forest. The infamous muddy forest! We sat down on a bench and fueled up with some breakfast. Then some fast km in the beginning with a prepped dry trail. Then the mud started. Not so bad, slightly worse than what we experienced on Stewart Island, but Kim was still very happy with the decision to remove socks and insoles.

We walked and walked, but the mud didn't seem to get any worse. Not as terrible as people had described - maybe the worst was yet to come?

We trudged on in the rain, with not much going on. The forest was nice and pretty and sometimes it opened up and light came through. We stopped for a quick rest in Turnbull's hut and shared a bar and some small Snickers. Then onwards toward Martin's Hut, and this track was mainly a bit better and faster than before which was very nice!

At Martin's Hut we met up with the other hiker Thomas again, and had a nice time talking all the rest of the afternoon.

Around half past ten, when the moon had replaced the sun, and we had been asleep for a while, we heard steps and whispers outside the hut. A swamp monster? The monster entered the porch and tried to open the door... Lukas the Brave climbed down the ladder and opened the door to scare the hungry monster away. It was no swamp monster! It was the other Czech couple, that we met on day one. They walked allll the way from Riverton!?

Today's:

Distance: 18.35 km

Ascent: 995 m

Descent: 592 m

Tent nights: 0/5

Weather: Rain all day, in varying intensity.