2/4/02 Aworoa to Toturonui, NZ (Kelly)
Well the last few days have been fun...definitely an experience of going "all natural." I haven't had a decent shower since we left Nelson. The showers that I have taken have been out of a spout that hangs high enough to barely stand under. And even that I didn't really stand under it because the water was bitter cold. Every one had to wear their swimsuit (except for Phill...he thought he would take on the challenge) because the "shower" was outside buried in some brush. The rest of the hike was absolutely beautiful...winding our way through what looked like tropical rain forest. We stumbled our way to a swing bridge walking from Anchorage to Bark Bay...this was like a big play ground fro us for the next 10 minutes. ( A swing bridge is really loose feeling so you can jump on it and move it side to side, etc) For the remaining 3 days we hooked up with 2 New Zealand couples that were basically doing the same path we were and then on the last night we met a New Zealand family...dad and his three kids ranging in age from 19 to 23. This gave a little variety of people to talk to along the way!
We are in Toturanui right now waiting for the bus to take us back to Nelson. There are three things I can't wait to do: take a real shower, eat a real meal, and do laundry. I have worn the same clothes for the entire trek...I think they could walk on their own right now.