Day 54 – Hope Kiwi Lodge to Lewis Pass

From the lodge it was more easy tramping to get to Windy Point and the Lewis Pass highway.  I got drizzled on a little bit in the morning, but it cleared up soon.

While I sat by the highway thumbing a ride into Springs Junction for my resupply package, an official looking pickup truck zipped by in the wrong direction.  Moments later it was coming back my way, orange light flashing on top.  I couldn’t figure out what they were up to – hitchhiking is legal, and an orange light doesn’t mean police anyhow.

The truck pulled up, four men in orange construction vests inside.  “You okay?” asked one.

“Yeah, just trying to hitch a ride into Springs Junction.  Are you, um, going that way?”

“Sorry, nope.  There’s a tramper who went missing in this area and matches your description: beard and glasses.”  And, I later found out, American.  “We thought you might be him.”

“Sorry to disappoint.”

I arrived in Springs Junction pondering that odd encounter.  The “town” is much smaller than I anticipated, the only amenities being an inn, a cafe, and a gas station.  I paid a lot more for a room than I would have at a backpackers, but for the shower alone it was worth every penny.  There was no laundry so I washed my clothes in the sink.  There’s nothing like seeing your washing water after scrubbing all your tramping clothes to make you realize just what a filthy animal you are.  Opening my food box was a real treat.  I haven’t done many mail drops on this trip, and I’d forgotten how much opening a package can feel like opening a present, even if you know everything that’s in it and in fact packed the box yourself* and the food inside is the same stuff you’ve been eating for weeks.  But there was extra good stuff here: new maps for the upcoming section, toilet paper, and a new treat for these last few sections: candles!  It’s been getting darker earlier, and doing my evening activities by candlelight in the huts has been much more pleasant than by flashlight.

*Well, actually I packed a box when I was in Wellington, but it was full to overflowing when I was done.  Big thanks to Roxane for buying a new box and repacking everything!