Author: Wouna le Roux

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Lake Kaniere track

Date: 3 January 2015
Distance: 22.8km
Time: 3:37

Hokitika is a gem of a town on the west coast of the South Island. How’s this for a super-quaint town sign?
The “spit” – a sand bank stretching into the sea creating a natural bay at Hokitika.
This cross near the spit has lots of hooks where different flags used to be attached, to inform incoming boats of the conditions at the entry of the bay.
We parked some distance from the actual start of the track and got a kilometre extra training on a jeep-track.
One of the very technical sections, with lots of roots, mud and uneven ground.
The sounds of boats and other “water toys” were humming in our ears for most of the first half.
Lake Kaniere visible through the trees every so often.
Some rocky sections, presumably side-streams running into the lake.
It was a really hot day and we did not take nearly enough water. I was hoping to get some at the other end of the track. Not to be, unfortunately, so we ended up pretty dehydrated.
A tricky little path.
A big climb at the end of the 11km before turning around and going back along the same path.

In the setting and frame of mind of The Luminaries (Gerry is finally making the time to read Eleanor Catton’s Man Booker Prize winning book), we arrived the evening before in Hokitika – historically a gold mining town. Driving up and down the city centre streets we tried to picture various scenes in the book, wondering which buildings (or remnants of buildings) might have featured in the story, which of the hotels might be the one where Moody walked into the closed meeting of the twelve men who’s collective experiences make up the novel. Standing at the “spit”, staring out at the ocean as the sun goes down, had us wondering if this was where some of the fictional characters in the book had also stood. This piece of land, the neighbouring harbour, and our subsequent drive up to Lake Kaniere, conjured up vivid visions of scenes from the book.

We saw the Lake Kaniere Track in a local brochure and decided it looked ideal for a trail run. What better way to experience a place than to do it by foot? New Zealand is literally a network of trails in every nook and cranny of the country. It is a trail runners paradise. Not only are you safe from muggings, but since there are no natural dangers like snakes, scorpions or spiders that can kill you, it really is the setting for an invigorating, stress-free run. Continue reading →

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Mt Aspiring – Rob Roy Track

Date: 1 January 2015
Distance: 10km (+6)

Our view waking up on New Year’s Day. Hope the rest of the year lives up to this breathtaking start! (© Gerry le Roux)
Crossing one of the little fords on the road to the proper start of the Rob Roy Glacier walk.
The beauty of New Zealand’s scenery never fails to leave me speechless. (© Gerry le Roux)
Love the typical turquoise colour of many of New Zealand’s rivers. The Matukituki River, with the swing bridge in the distance. (© Gerry le Roux)
Crossing the swing bridge over the Matukituki River.
A dash of colour en route.
Boulder hopping across a little stream.
A bit of a tricky section crossing a huge slip.
An early view of the Rob Roy glacier. (© Gerry le Roux)
Beautiful mountain streams. (© Gerry le Roux)
Snapping away. I sometimes wonder how many photos are taken per year in New Zealand. Must be millions! (© Gerry le Roux)
Arriving at the viewpoint at the end of the track, we were surprised by the number of people lounging around. Little did we know that these were the earlybirds, and that the masses were still on their way! (© Gerry le Roux)
The cameraman at work. 🙂
Lovely views of the Rob Roy glacier – a fitting reward to a nice little walk. (© Gerry le Roux)
Time for a lunch snack before heading back down.
Admiring the views.
Classic New Zealand scene. Mount Aspiring peeking out on the right. (© Gerry le Roux)
View of Mount Aspiring on a beautiful New Year’s Day. (© Gerry le Roux)

On the morning of the last day of 2014, Gerry and I left Te Anau for the Wanaka area in the hope that we would find a deserted spot in the mountains to see out 2014 and celebrate 2015 somewhere tranquil. We just weren’t in the mood for loud music, heaps of drunk, puking people and the usual hustle and bustle of new years parties.

Wanaka was buzzing with people, as were all the other towns we passed through on our way there. We stopped to return Gerry’s hydration vest, went for a quick browse through Mt Outdoors to see if they might have larger size packs, and ended up having a nice long chat to Steve Hart who told us about all the nice camping spots and walks in the area. Afterwards we went for a quick beer before following the road next to Lake Wanaka and into the Matukituki valley.

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Kepler Track – round #2 (24-27 December 2014)

Fresh as morning daisies we were ready to start the tramp: Nettie, Gerry, myself and Johann.
Crossing the Waiau River at the start at Rainbow Reach.
The beautiful clear water of the river is mesmerising.
Enormous fungus growing on a beech tree.
Lush green forest for the first day’s hike. The shade from the blazing sun was most welcome.
Lunch at one of the small beaches of Lake Te Anau. That’s the life!
Yep, we’re definitely lost. The highway we’re currently on, surely cannot be the right path…
Johann bending trees. From now on we’ll just call him Chuck Norris!
First things first – mozzie repellent has to be applied quick smart!
With the tents pitched, it’s time for a tipple by the fire on Xmas eve.
I just love a little camp fire. Contrary to common wisdom, smokey fires don’t really deter sandflies.
Brand spanking new stove that Johann is trying out for the first time.
With suspicion (and trepidation?) the engineer looks at his new stove.
Spending Xmas eve next to a lake with good friends.

A few years ago, Gerry and I did a similar stint: we ran the Fish River Canyon in Namibia, rested a day, then started walking the route again with my sister and her family the day after. I guess there is something zen-like about doing the same route over and over, especially in such a short timeframe.

After our one-day run of the Kepler Track two days before, we again started walking it with family after one rest day. This time with Johann and Nettie. Admittedly I was quite knackered after the 60km track, but the fall on top of the mountain probably made up for the biggest part of my muscle soreness. The 50 shades of green-yellow-purple egg on my arm was still prominent, very sore and always in the way. I kept on bumping it against everything.

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Kepler Challenge training dry run

Date: 22 December 2014
Distance: 60km (some sources give it as 67km – I would love that to be the case!)
Time: 11:58

At the Kepter Track car park, rearing to go, and with our smiles perhaps hiding a bit of panic about what lay ahead.
The early morning sun rising over the lake.
The lush green surroundings in the still flattish section next to Lake Te Anau.
About two-thids up the mountain you pass the limestone bluff.
Just out of the treeline, shortly after 8:00 in the morning.
Tussock on the mountain with the small town of Te Anau far in a distance.
A fairly easy section of a couple of kilometres before you reach the hut.
Luxmore hut where we stopped for warm clothing, filled up water bottles and empty bladders.
Still feeling strong despite a cold wind.
Some rough terrain makes the going slow.
These avalanche sections and slips are quite scary.
When running/walking on the spine of the mountains, the drop to either side is rather steep.
Despite it being overcast, we still go lovely views.
On top of the world!
Gerry taking a breather and quenching his thirst.
The little path on the ridge stretches for miles and miles.
These mountain-top sections are quite exposed, but breathtakingly beautiful.
Mountain running at its finest.
It is amazing to experience sweaty heat, cold and snow all in one day’s outing.
We spotted this kea at one of the shelters on the mountain. Beautiful birds, but quite a menace.
Nearing the end of the section above the tree line.
Assessing the damage after my fall. The “egg” started to wobble when running so I wrapped it up with a Buff.
A huge slip down a valley made for difficult conditions underfoot.
Back in the luscious green forest.
Following the Iris Burn.
One of the many little bridges on the way, ensuring we could go through the run with dry feet.
Iris Burn hut was already far behind us when we ran through a bog.
A little stream crossing.
When you start seeing monsters, you know you need more hydration!
Beech tree forest to shelter us from the relentless sun.
I was clearly not dressed in the right colours for a scorchingly hot, sunny December day.
Some welcome shade back in the forest.
Crossing the wetland.
And a tricky swing bridge.
Back onto the path next to the Waiau River.
Not far to go now, but we were both quite knackered.
Happy and relieved to have made our unsupported traverse without any major problems.
4 days after the fall. Still quite swollen and rather sore.
4 days after the fall. 50 shades of green-purple-yellow.
6 days after the fall. Blood filled my sweat glands to cause the “spotty” look?
10 days after the fall. Still quite sore, but starting to look better.

Things don’t always go according to plan. But sometimes they do. This self-supported run had a bit of both.

We were booked to hike the Kepler Track, a 60km circular route, over Xmas with family. And so I thought to myself, why not run it a couple of days prior to the hike? Luckily it didn’t take much convincing to get Gerry on board as we thought it would make for a great last long run before the Tarawera, and we needed to test our hydration and fuelling needs for these kinds of events anyway.

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Three Bridges Marathon

Date: 13 December 2014
Venue: Wanganui
Time: 4:52

Johann, myself and Gerry shortly before the start of the marathon.
A smallish field gather for the briefing.
The early morning sun on the river within the first kilometre.
An out-and-back section next to the river in the park.
Johann and Gerry on lap one.
Crossing bridges – that’s what it’s all about.
A little off-road downhill to pass under a bridge.
Three runners, all three entered for the Tarawera (including the photographer).
Some nice artwork en route.
Self-portrait. A beautiful reflective sculpture of the river.
More artwork. Love these pencils!
Gerry going strong.
Johann all smiles a few hundred metres in front of us on the out-and-back stretch.
One of the water points.
Entertaining signage along the way.
Gerry at another drink station with some Striders in the back.
Had to get another shot of these. We didn’t pass them four times for nothing! 😉
Tired and sore only two weeks after our previous marathon.
Johann and me with a mouth full of jelly babies.
Trying to encourage each other, we caught up with another slower runner in the last few kilometres.
Johann and Gerry only about 4km before the finish.
Approaching the runway for landing. It came just in time.
All done and happy to reach another milestone.

I always find it amusing how people with the same goals in mind, tend to gravitate towards each other. Years ago, 2008, Gerry and I entered for the Cape Odyssey event as a team. It was a 5 day staged race over roughly 220km for teams of two people. (The event unfortunately had a short lifespan of only two years before it was cancelled.)

During our built up for this mammoth task, we entered a lot of other events of various distances all over the country. It’s always infinitely easier to cover long distances when you know there are other runners and everybody is going through the same effort and sometimes pain, plus you get support in the form of aid stations. The company on the road and getting to meet and chat to likeminded folk, sharing experiences and swopping tips and tricks, makes it all the more worthwhile. We’ve met so many wonderful people who became great friends afterwards. Continue reading →