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The Picnic Table at the End of the UniverseSome fantails join us, and they are just a few of the many sociable and friendly birds (hungry?) that accompany us along the track.
Another small stream emerges from the side of the track and flows across the path. We are starting to see the tannin-stained water that characterises most of the west coast waterways. The colour is a product of the plant litter the water filters through on its way to the nearest stream. It does not affect the safety of the water for drinking purposes.
We emerge onto the Gouland Downs, and I look back the way we've come. Just look at that sky.
The track has changed again. It is almost as variable as the surrounding scenery
The vegetation becomes smaller and tougher still and large limestone outcrops start to appear on either side. The track gets rougher.
Suddenly, the last thing we we were expecting in this wilderness: a picnic table. Somehow the mental picture of a chopper making its way through the mountains with a picnic table dangling underneath is just too absurd to take seriously. But here it is and we love it.
This particular table I associate with chocolate and home-dried banana, caramel-sweet. MMmmm! Dried banana.
A little way off, but some distance as the boot walks, you can see our designated lunch stop, the Gouland Downs Hut. For once we are bang on the DOC estimated walking times. Yeah, right. Downhill.
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