Te Araroa (day 54) - Harper River Campground to Methven / mile 1413
A Nero day, I've walked for half of it until the Rakaia river hazard bypass and hitchhiked from there to Methven. It was mostly gravel road walking, so the miles were flying fast, I've left the Harper River Campground early and arrived at the Lake Coleridge before midday. I've been told it was easy to catch a hitchhike here.. but the road was empty. I could have prearranged a shuttle for 50$ but I didn't think it was necessary, so now I was just walking along the road hoping a car will appear. Bypass was about 50 miles long so I had to get lucky or I would lose a lot of time trying to walk it. After half an hour a car appeared and the driver was kind enough to stop and give me a lift to an intersection from which many cars were heading towards Methven. Another 20 minutes of sticking thumb up brought me a ride to town. This time it was mother and daughter from Auckland going to pick up their husband and son (or father and b...