Te Araroa (day 41) - Pelorus Bridge Campground to Rocks Hut [Richmond Ranges] / mile 1155

First day of a traverse through one of the main highlights of The Araroa, Richmond Ranges.

After leaving Pelorus Bridge trail was going on the road and the bicycle path for the first few hours until it eventually turned into the bush and went its own way. Track was pretty well maintained and not muddy which was a welcome change. We went past first few huts and it looks like they will become a staple on the trail from now on. People on the GPS app I'm using are posting the times to get from one hut to the other which is quite handy.
Huts vary in size and facilities they provide. Smallest ones so far were 6 bunks with a toilet and river water access. The Rocks Hut I'm staying in tonight is bigger, it can fit 14 people with more space on the floor if needed, it has big kitchen area and a flushing toilets which is unheard of, especially at this elevation!

And we are quite high already at over 800 metres, with the highest point in this section being Mt Rintoul measuring 1731 metres. I should arrive there in two days. Weather tomorrow is suppose to be bad (rain and wind), which might mean a short day, or no progress at all. It should be getting better day after that.

I had a pretty special moment today, few fantails (small, sparrow like birds with fancy tails) started following me on trail. They do that sometimes to catch bugs flying around smelly hikers. They were sitting on branches close to the trail and swoop right next to me when they spotted something. I took few bad pictures of them on my other camera. It was such a cool experience.
There's quite a few people staying in the hut tonight. Greg from Australia and the American couple I've met yesterday at the campground. A Kiwi girl, section hiking the South Island and a French guy just doing his own thing.

After the dinner, people decided to have a chat about politics and food, I didn't really wanted to be a part of it so I just did my chores and chilled on the side. Not long after it got dark and cold outside and just after 9pm everyone were snoozing on their cozy, rubber mattresses.

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