Yay: awesome descent from the hut to Garston into the dawn. Unexpected coffe cart! And great cheese rolls at 5 rivers. At mossburn was locking my bike outside cafe when I looked up and there was Richard! Randomly stopping at that same cafe. We were both totally surprised to see each other, such an awesome unlikely fluke of timing. Really liked round the mountains from garston to 5 rivers (despite the numerous gates)… lovely of Ken’s wife to find me outside te anau supermarket and encourage me.
Boo:… but really hate the rest of rtm trail. Slow surface, often beside highway, random wiggles. But then comes incredibly hard/stony or fresh gravel roads with 100kph locals. Into massive head or side wind. 6pm at te anau became 730 as wind really slowed me down. But pushed on still. Seal after te anau felt blissful. Found cosy bivy in beech trees. Looking forward to mford road!