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Published: January 22nd 2011
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17th January
Richard>>>>>>>
We left the camp-site a little to late (9.30am) and started our walk southwards towards Wharapapa out door centre where we planned to rock climb for a couple of days. As soon as we set off the packs felt heavy, the sun was blazing, sending heat waves shimmering up from the long straight road ahead. To the left of us a dog jumped into a water filled trough to gain some respite from the searing heat.
We walked and walked changing sides of the road when it was possible to gain shade, from the trees that lined the road.
Cars passed us very quickly as the speed limit on this rural road is 100kph, which is surprising as the speed limit in Norway, on the motorway, is only 100kph!
After about 2 hrs our water was already running low, as we could only carry around 2 litres. Jamie had supplied us with a very detailed map of the area, and it clearly showed some rivers in the low lands, however, in Cambridge i had noticed signs stating that there was hose pipe ban and water shortage, this was not in the planning!!!
Soon after we passed a cyclist
leaning forward!
weight compensation out on his daily ride,( to be honest he was a bit of a fatto, wearing a luminous see through vest, and his belly was touching his bike frame!) he stopped and asked us where we were heading, he also addressed my concerns about water, explaining that there was a school up ahead with a water tap around the rear of the building that we could use.
We continued walking, until we found a large tree at the side of the road. We stopped, in the shade, checked our position on the map, and our water rations! We rested a while, then stood up and slowly plodded our way towards the school and much needed water, through desolate dry landscape that was quickly becoming our "death Valley"
We had earlier agreed that our 2 day walk was to become a 3 day walk. I cannot explain further how hot it was becoming.
Our spot to camp was to be a further 11k, next to a bridge, clearly marked on the map with a river running underneath. This river would obviously give us drinking water and also water required for cooking.
The heat was now unbearable, energy sapping,
cool mailbox.
to much time to kill around here, and most of all worrying.
Suddenly a red mini bus bounced up onto the grass verge, " Do you two want a lift?" the driver shouted.
We didnt even have the time to answer we opened the sliding door and threw in our packs.
Lucky for us the fatto cyclist had gotten home and decided to come to our aid!!!
We drove and drove eventually passing the bridge where we had set our expectations on as to where to camp, the river was bone dry! We would have been in the shit if this guy, also called Richard, had not picked us up, fate had played its hand in our favour, for now.................
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