12 Jan. Today I finish the Queen Charlotte Track and transition to start the Richmond Range section. The track follows a road between Anakiwa and Pelorus Bridge. Roads are for vehicles so I wanted to avoid walking roads and booked a 11:25 shuttle into Havelock for resupplies.
That meant and early start, up at 05:30 breakfast, pack tent, and off at 06:45. Only 13.5 km with 200m climb and arrived well early at Anakiwa at 09:45.
Managed to get Internet in Havelock, so uploading now. The Havelock Four Square has a good selection of tramping food, but didn’t need much! Got a luxury tube of sweet condensed milk. 😊Next 8 days will probably be out of comms. Mostly staying in DOC huts.
Helen, who runs the Link Bus shuttle, offered to wait while I resupplied in Havelock and then take me on to Pelorus Bridge. Very kind and great value at $25.
The Interconnected View 
Sounds like you are going well so far! Don’t forget you can always post back any of that 20kg that you realise you don’t need 😉
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We just love the marlborough sounds – especially Anakiwa where Gareth worked for Sea Kayak Adventures for a summer season. One of my favourite NZ experiences is when we did the Queen Charlotte Track and then borrowed a double kayak from them at the end for a wee day trip on the sounds – we were lucky enough to see Orcas close up from the kayak. Glad you are enjoying the start of your trip. Watch out for those pesky Wekas!
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Glad all’s going well and you’ve managed to stick up on supplies.
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well done Richard. You are an inspiration.
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Karen and John here. We were quite anxious walking The Queen Charlotte track for the first time without a guide but meeting Richard on the pier was great news…at least that’s what we thought!
“I started tramping in NZ when I first got here” Richard reassured us. “I’ve even led my own ‘tramps’ with fellow travellers a lot younger than I am” “Do you have ihikeGPS on your phone?”, he asked. “It really is worth downloading a copy so that you know exactly where you are in the bush. I even have this GPS device on me at all times. I just push this button and The World will know precisely where I am” We really could not believe our luck knowing that we were in the safe hands of an expert…
We covered this first leg with Richard and engaged in great conversation with him on a myriad of subjects from family, home, futures and had many great laughs too. We felt truly honoured to be walking with him on his massive and amazing challenge.
However…despite Richards trekking experience and having every single hand held navigational device known to man…would you believe it…we walked 2kms too far having missed the turn off to the bar! Thankfully Richard did manage to find his way back so that we could all enjoy a well earned beer…or two…before we waved him off on his way. We are also pleased to be the first, of hopefully many, travellers to support Richard and his nominated charity on this very worthwhile cause.
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Thanks Karen and John, I am still going well but haven’t found any more bars. Maybe I missed them again. 😊 Enjoy the rest of your holiday. Hope to meet you again sometime. R
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