Day 123: Twizel to Lake Middleton Campsite (2443-2472)

Saturday, April 1

I woke up around 7, ate breakfast and packed up. I left around 8 and went to the cafe to get a milkshake and use the wifi. Around 9 I started walking out of Twizel.

The TA went along the highway for a few kilometers and then it was back on the Alps 2 Ocean trail. It was really flat and easy but boring compared to yesterday. Biking was so fast! There were fall colors coming in on the trees and shrubs, which was nice. And it was overcast except for a few spells of sun between 12 and 2.

Around lunch I met a Canadian couple from Alberta so I stopped and talked to them while we all ate. They were heading the opposite direction, walking from Queenstown to Lake Tekapo.

After the short break I started walking again. A few cyclists passed me and the clouds came back in. I thought it might rain so I got out my raincoat but it never actually rained.

I eventually made it to Lake Middleton Campsite and left the money in the box at the entrance. At first I tried setting my tent up in the trees, but the ground was pretty hard and I must have placed it in a wind tunnel. I tried everything but the wind kept pulling the steaks out.

Eventually I realized that there was less wind by the lake, so I moved my tent as close to the tree line as possible while staying along the lake. All my stuff was already unpacked in my tent so I awkwardly carried it. I didn't want to repack everything. There were a few people at the campsite so I tried not to look too weird.

Once that was taken care of I threw my trash away in the garbage cans and grabbed some extra toilet paper from the bathroom. Just what I thought I'd need to get to Wanaka.

I got all settled in my tent and started to make dinner and check my phone. Lauren and Sam had made it back to California. I missed them already.

I ate dinner looking out at the lake as the sun started to set. There was a heron, ducks and a swan enjoying the water.

After dinner I watched an episode of the West Wing and went to sleep around 9.