Day 102: Boyle Flat Hut to Boyle Village (2048-2060)
Saturday, March 11
I woke up between 6:30 and 7 and ate breakfast. It wasn't raining yet, but the air was heavy and damp. Around 7:30 it started to lightly drizzle. I was ready to go and said goodbye to John and the Kiwi couple at 8.
It never rained too hard, but it never stopped. I really appreciated all the sections in the forest as opposed to the open grasslands because the trees helped keep the rain from falling on me so hard. John caught up to me just before the second suspension bridge and I passed two northbound hikers. As I got closer and closer to Boyle Village the trail got easier and better maintained (not that it was ever very difficult today). I didn't take too many photos because of the rain, but it was nice.
After a few hours I saw a group of three ladies and asked them how long ago they had left the carpark. They said it was about 15 minutes away!
As I got off the trail and walked through a campground around noon I saw the highway and I saw the Boyle River Outdoor Education Centre. I really wanted to stand under an awning for a few minutes before I tried hitchhiking so I walked up to the center and asked a lady if I could just stand under the porch for 15 minutes. She was really nice and asked if I had sent a package.
If I had been continuing the trail tomorrow, I would have stayed here tonight and had a food package sent here. But I was planning to hitchhike to Christchurch to meet Lauren and Sam on Monday.
I explained why I was headed to Christchurch and she helped another girl with her food package. She had just taken a few days off the trail and was continuing southbound today. I ate some snacks, and packed my hiking poles, garbage bag rain skirt and pink dishwashing gloves in my pack so I wouldn't look too weird on the side of the road.
The lady at Boyle River made me a cardboard sign that said Christchurch so I could get a ride more easily. It was so nice! I stood on the wrong side of the road for 15 minutes, but once I figured that out I quickly got a ride. A young kid on his way back home to Christchurch picked me up. He had been visiting his grandpa in Greymouth.
He stopped to pick up a friend and then dropped me off at the hostel I wanted to stay at. I had a reservation for tomorrow and was hoping there was a bed tonight. They were full, but the other YHA a block away had one dorm bed left. Perfect! I booked it and headed over. I hung my pack cover, gloves and rain skirt/garbage bag to dry. Everything else was dry. My Hyperlight Backpack is amazing!
After taking a long shower I walked to Pak N Save to get groceries. There was an earthquake in Christchurch 6 years ago. Walking to the store I noticed so many abandoned and under construction buildings. It's hard to believe it's been six years.
When I got to Pak N Save I noticed a Dennys across the street. I was starving so I thought I'd check it out. They serve breakfast all day here too. And it was going to be less than $20 for a big meal (pretty good for New Zealand). It hit the spot!
After breakfast for dinner I walked over to Pak N Save and got food for a few days. When I got back to the hostel I did laundry, read some news and watched a few West Wing episodes before bed. The rain never stopped but at least I only needed to walk in it for 4 hours.
An easy to use stile. I didn't take too many photos today because I didn't want to get my electronics wet.
A trolley and braced church in Christchurch.