St Arnaud

E & K would have liked to stay a while longer in Greymouth but the sun (or lack of it) pushed them north and then east. Taking a side road they ended up by lake Rotoiti in something similar to a Swedish log cabin. Longing for a good hike E persuaded K to come on a hike round the lake. This is a trip of 22km if you can get across the river at the bottom end of the lake. The weather was perfekt so they set off with a picnic about 10 in the morning. the going was easy at first, a lake track through the beech forest. Then it got very muddy at times and a few streams to cross but no big problems. It took 3 hours to reach the hut at the bottom of the lake so after a short rest they set off to cross the river. the first one was shoes and socks off which E did without a murmer. the second and third were the same. Then they came to the river. Swift flowing and a lot deeper thanthe others. Not to mention wide. The story ends there except for a privilaged few. So lunch was eaten after retracing their steps across the three rivers. And then 3 hours back the same way. E ran the last 30min to save the time that was booked at the spa. And the spa was good.