Day 3: Tirohanga Walkway (Picton)
We decided to do the walk up the Tirohanga Walkway today - a path up the side of a sizeable mountain, that we were told had spectacular views of Picton.
Unfortunately, the people sharing the information failed to inform us that as a couple of fatties we were probably going to have a coronary one quarter of the way up the mountain.
URGH.
The walk started a couple of blocks from where we're staying (we're right under the mountain), and wound up through the forest. The first part was crazy steep, and 10 minutes in, gasping for air and yelling abuse at each other as if it was the other one's fault, we almost turned back. Seriously unfit. But we persisted, and after a... couple... of rest stops (where we collapsed on a bench/stump/puddle and tried to sign "Please call me an evac chopper") we had pretty much given up when a couple of regulars came charging past and shamed us into continuing. They also told us we were only 5 minutes from the top, which turned out to be an EVIL FUCKING LIE that was probably meant to encourage us to continue but really just about killed us.
All complaining aside, when we did reach the top (20 minutes later) the view was mind blowing. It's another case of photos being woefully inadequate for capturing the view. We were so enamored by it all that I almost forgot to take photos, and then when I did had to take them all over again because I forgot to set the camera up properly. We'd even briefly forgotten that our hearts had exploded out of our chests about halfway up and it was sheer awe alone that kept us conscious.
The views stretched out on all sides, North and Northeast across the Sounds, and to the South to what I'm pretty sure is Hobbit country. Unfortunately, Travis, I was too tired to hunt one down for the whole throwing-into-the-fires-of-Mount-Doom thing :(
I've just stitched together a panorama of the southern view. It took about 4 hours, and I could print the final image possibly life sized, it's so damn big. I'm just trimming them down now to post, but in the mean time, here's some of the snaps from the climb.
Unfortunately, the people sharing the information failed to inform us that as a couple of fatties we were probably going to have a coronary one quarter of the way up the mountain.
URGH.
The walk started a couple of blocks from where we're staying (we're right under the mountain), and wound up through the forest. The first part was crazy steep, and 10 minutes in, gasping for air and yelling abuse at each other as if it was the other one's fault, we almost turned back. Seriously unfit. But we persisted, and after a... couple... of rest stops (where we collapsed on a bench/stump/puddle and tried to sign "Please call me an evac chopper") we had pretty much given up when a couple of regulars came charging past and shamed us into continuing. They also told us we were only 5 minutes from the top, which turned out to be an EVIL FUCKING LIE that was probably meant to encourage us to continue but really just about killed us.
All complaining aside, when we did reach the top (20 minutes later) the view was mind blowing. It's another case of photos being woefully inadequate for capturing the view. We were so enamored by it all that I almost forgot to take photos, and then when I did had to take them all over again because I forgot to set the camera up properly. We'd even briefly forgotten that our hearts had exploded out of our chests about halfway up and it was sheer awe alone that kept us conscious.
The views stretched out on all sides, North and Northeast across the Sounds, and to the South to what I'm pretty sure is Hobbit country. Unfortunately, Travis, I was too tired to hunt one down for the whole throwing-into-the-fires-of-Mount-Doom thing :(
I've just stitched together a panorama of the southern view. It took about 4 hours, and I could print the final image possibly life sized, it's so damn big. I'm just trimming them down now to post, but in the mean time, here's some of the snaps from the climb.
First Rest Break
One third of the way up
Pretty views (too tired to pose)
"Fuck ya"
"Please kill me"
posted by Boon at
2:10 PM
4 Comments:
No mention of how you two managed to roll back down the hill?
Glad you guys are enjoying yourselves! We're enjoying the blog, it's just like being there, we get to see all the pretty pictures but without the climbing or physical exertion :)
<3 Pez
HAHAHA Yeah, the trip down was a lot faster and less strenuous, but we kept doing that thing where your legs get away from you and suddenly you're sprinting and screaming for help as you bulldoze into a tree.
We got back to the hotel room just after lunch and haven't left since! HAHA! There's a storm coming in and it's windy and cold, so we decided to do movies in the warm.
By "doing movies" I mean watching DVD's, by the way, just incase that wasn't clear...
Love it love it love it.
...MAYBE starting to get a bit jealous.......
HAHAHA Don't be jealous! Save up so we can hire a camper and do it again! We've seen HEAPS of camper groups driving around. It's the perfect country for it.
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