Zuckerbrot & Peitsche - Great Walk Abel Tasman

.....or as Kyra and I lovingly named our last track: 'Paddy's Torture Program' for us....

So 5 days ago we packed our backpacks (15 kg each), packed our gas stove, tucked the tent under our arm and set off for one of New Zealand's great walks..... To fulfill Paddy's wish (just one day of hiking is no big deal)....so we decided to cover crazy 40 km in 4 days. Sounds like nothing at first, but the moment I put on the backpack for the first time, I already have a feeling that this is not going to be fun :D

Over the course of the 4 days, I curse Paddy about 100 times!!! :D

On the first day we walk (...or suffer) 13 km and even 400 meters of altitude with the luggage feel like 1000. Our route takes us first to Anchorage. When we arrive there, it dawns on me again: There is NO hot water on the campsites of the track....NO HOT SHOWERS!!! So we set up the tent and when the camp operator wants to see our booking, I cheekily ask for hot water. What was originally meant as a joke by me ends with us being invited for a coffee in his house on the beach and getting our last warm shower for the next 4 days. And again......how INCREDIBLY warm-hearted are the New Zealanders....

.....on every other campsite the washing and shower program is accompanied by loud screaming ^^

The next days to Bark Bay, Awaroa and Totaranui are sweaty, panting....in between cursing Paddy....and yet we see this incredible nature that can only be reached on foot and is so unique that I can't even describe it.

The way to Awaroa is in constant rain and takes a toll on our strength, but every time we reach the campsite, I see the water that is so incredibly turquoise-blue and I can only marvel and at the same time I am sooooo incredibly proud of us and happy to have mastered the path together.

This afternoon we were picked up from Totaranui by water taxi and had the incredible luck to see dolphins and seals, and back in Marahau our car was hugged tightly by us.

For now, we have retreated to a cabin in Takaka at Golden Beach for 3 days, licking our wounds, taking warm showers, doing laundry.... and above all EATING, SLEEPING, EATING!!!......