Were it not for our luxuriating in the jacuzzi the night before, I suspect we would have had a great deal of difficulty getting our muscles moving thus morning. As it was, all of us were wailing in agony any time we put any weight on our backsides – this was our main motivation for getting moving today, sitting around was not even an option. I may have mentioned before my new found distaste for covering ground I’ve already done, so starting the day by walking back some 6 kilometres that we had cycled last night hurt me more than my bum right now.
Getting to the trailhead we climbed up through beautiful tussock country with views of Lake Ohau tantalisingly growing behind us. As we climbed over the undulating landscape, the 94 kilometres of yesterday were bearing down on us all, and it wasn’t long into the walk that we conceded it would be an early camp that night.
From about 5pm, the scout for a campsite began, ending not long after in the securing of a relatively flat stretch of long grass by the riverside. The long grass would make for a comfy mattress under us, but when first pitched had the tent standing a few inches from the ground. Cue me rolling around in the tent on flattening duty. The sun was still blazing as we cooked dinner by the river, we decided to stay well away from all the long dry grass – sure we’d be only mortified if we caused a bush fire. Just as soon as the sun dipped behind the mountains we were plunged into a chilliness that reminded us we were still at altitude, and encouraged us into our sleeping bags, the white noise of the river acting as a lullaby that had us out cold in no time. 
Trek3000 