The day Kirstypops left I picked up my El Cheapo car and hit the road with tentage. I'm driving a Nissan Sunny saloon that is so fooking ancient it doesn't have central locking or a rear window wiper, what's that all about????
So it was a couple of nights under canvas before I embarked on my first of three Adilady epics aka NZ's Great Walks. I was to spend 4 days tramping the Northern Circuit in Tongariro National Park finishing on New Year's Day, hurrah for me!
I had booked into overnight huts but had to take my supplies with me, thank fookingtons KP lent me her bigger rucksack!!!!! Even so I still couldn't fit my beeping slag in so I had to hook it on the front in a bright yellow dry bag, check me out? Ho, ho, fooking ho. I look like Mrs Santa's sister.
You may recognise some of the scenery peeps as Tongariro is home to Mount Doom and is where KP and I did the Alpine Crossing.
Day 1: I left middayish in the rain:( first stop was Mangatepopo Hut, a mere 9 km. Along the way I met Geoff from Oldham, fancy that! For those of you who don't know I was born there and grew up just down the road in a dump called Middleton. With him was his son Rob, Rob's girlfriend Amy (5 months up the duffney!) and their mates Alex and Shaz. The walk was uneventful, it drizzled, it was very misty and it looked like The Peak District; below are some pics.
We arrived at the hut around 3. My new friends taught me how to play 'shithead' and I ate my first of many cheese sarnages. Foodwise I had packed for convenience, loaf, sliced cheese, branflakes, powdered milk, museli bars, nuts and dried apricots. That was to be my diet for the next 4 days, very Dullsville. Everybody else was eating freeze dried ready meals, just add water except Frankie, Lucas and Adam. They had packed everything except the kitchen sink and were busy frying sausages, we all had food envy.
From left to right: Shaz, AL, Geoff, Amy, Rob, Alex.
Dreadful sleepingtons. The demon snorers were in my dorm grunting away in stereo, bass and treble. After several hours of swearing and cussing I eventually dragged my mattress into the main hut and managed to grab a couple of hours kippage. I awoke to the smell of frying bacon and the worst case of food envy ever.
Day 2: I left with my new mates around 9 for the 13km hike to Oturere Hut. The scenery was to be spectacular, lava flows, volcanoes, emerald lakes, I was kiddie with excitement but oh no! It rained dogs and cats for the whole day:( I did manage to take a few snappages when there was a brief break in the clouds but that is all.
The might of Mordor in the mist...
We eventually arrived at huttage, soaking wet around 3; I was sooo cold I couldn't even unfasten my own coat or shoe laces and Frankie had to do it for me. She made me a hot chocolate and sat me by the fire, I think I was blue from head to toe and had shiverings verging on convulsions (KP, those red troos are sooo NOT waterproof.) The hut was way too small for the number of wet people trying to dry out and it stank of wet dog.
I had steak, pasta and fresh veg for dinner, HURRAH! Adam had over snacked so gave me his food, cooked by Lucas. Thanks guys xxxx
Day 3: hurrah for the sunshine! Here are some photos I took around the hut.
Mount Doom disguised as Santa ho, ho, ho!
An easy 8 km to the final hut called Waihohonu, here are the photos from the walk.
Waihohonu was a palace and I spent the afternoon snoozing on the deck admiring the views of Mount Ngauruhoe (aka Doom) and Mount Ruapehu.
Before dinner we went for a dippage in these crystal clear springs.
Lordylord of Fooktown, it is the coldest thing I have ever immersed myself in, melt water from the snows of Ruapehu. Us girlios were smuggling peanuts and the boys willies got sooo cold they turned themselves inside out and into vaginas lol.
OMG, Lucas had brought a shower with him, even better than the kitchen sink. He hooked it up to a tree and Adilady got to have her first hot shower in 3 days, my bits and pits were most grateful. I dined on pasta, veg and fried salami cooked by Lucas and Adam. Frankie had carried a box of wine with her to see in the New Year so it was all washed down very nicely with a glass of Shiraz. Thanks once again guys, I'm looking forward to hooking up in Wellibobs:D
Left: Frankie and Lucas
Right: AL and Adam
Day 4: New Year's Day and the final 15km back to the village of Whakapapa. Sunshine but fresh; perfect walking weather.
The oldest recreational hut in NZ; built 1904.
I can't remember the name of this lake but it was a beautiful turquoise blue.
Strange shapes in the landscape that looked manmade.
Taranaki Falls.
We arrived around 3 and had a NY beero to celebrate, I went to pitch tentage then met the others in their lodge for dinner. Geoff couldn't believe I didn't have any aches or pains, what can I say? This Adilady is a natural born tramp(er). I had a fabulous time with Geoff, Rob, Amy, Alex and Shaz, thanks guys, you are gold:D
Today I'm off to do a skydive over Lake Taupo (yikes!) I have just realised I have no will or testament. Fight amongst yourselves guys. I'll be deadingtons so won't give a monks lol. Much love to you all, I am currently sitting outside Taupo library and will leave you with this quote which is etched into their railings in both Maori and English.
'Seek the treasure you value most dearly,
If you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain.'
This is Adilady saying HNY and over and out xxxx
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