Unexpected sightings on Earnslaw Burn Track ｜ New Zealand

Today's mission, we're heading up the Earnslaw burn track which is an up and back. Apparently there's nice views. I'm leaving way later than planned because it's now about quarter to 11. It's an hour drive to get there. We've got all the things, all the running stuff and I need to go and get some fuel for the car. Got my sandwiches, got the snacks and yeah, it's a stunning day. All right, we made it. Little red rocket got me here safely. I'm pack-horsed up. You can see that. See that there? Yeah, just a bit bigger than my body worth of stuff with me. It's better to be safe than sorry. Scotland taught me anything. It's don't trust the bluebird day. All right, here we are. Earnslaw burn track. Four to six hours of hiking. I'm going to be partly running so we should be on for a fairly swift in and out job. It's been quite a steep start but we're already reaping the benefits. Look at that. So I literally came like just over this and it was sat right there in the middle of the track, just sunning himself. Anyway, I tried to get close. I stayed really quiet. So I've moved closer a little bit, a little bit because I thought you should probably be getting into a shelter because you looked hungry. But he ran away. Got a wee bit closer, a little bit closer. Look at this. See if we can get a wee bit of a head dunk in here because I'm hot. Oh, refreshing. That's what we need. So it's been quite a bit of this, trees falling over and stuff, windfall, but it's made it really interesting. I can often get a bit bored on walks so it's nice to have a really technical challenge. I'm trying to run as much as I can. So New Zealand paths, they have these triangles and they kind of point you in the right direction. This is a nice little zone. I've passed quite a few people. I've not been on my own on this track. A lot of people looking fairly tired on their way out, not on their way up like me, with big bags. So I think we've been camping out here and it's just been so technical. But yeah, it'd be pretty full on if I had a massive backpack on. So I'm pretty glad I'm running just my little mini pack. It's time for another head dunk. Look at that. Way too good not to. Onwards and upwards. A nice beeswax wrap, courtesy of my mother. She's very eco-friendly. Nice. We're going to keep moving because the sandflies will find me in no time and then I'll be a mess. The sandflies are New Zealand's version of the midgie, which is just no good to anybody. They're pretty brutal. Maybe because I've got scorched blood and it's unfamiliar to them. They're like, this is delicious. Easy. We've done 7.3 kilometers in just over two hours, so slow going. But I mean, look at the state of it. It's been technical as so slow going. I've hardly been running, just been trying to keep my ankles in one piece. And yeah, get down like this. First sighting. First sighting. Just more of the same. Well, I'm glad I came here when it's dry. Guys, guys, it's happening. We're finally, look at the state of that. It's just insane. It's worth it, man. So it's taken just over two and a half hours to get to this point. We've done 8.4 kilometers. Apparently if you go round the corner another half an hour or so, it gets even more epic. So what time of day is it? So it's 3pm. Oh, look at this little slice of heaven. All right, so I'm having my wrap. Chicken, salad, hummus, a bit of babble. Cajun chicken, obviously. It's the spice of choice. Anyway, I just feel like such. Got my massive tripod because I couldn't find my small one. Got my phone on a stupid tripod. I'm an absolute influencer in the wild, guys. I don't know what's happened here, but it's happened. This is what happens when you do solo missions and you want to get a nice picture. You got to take tripods and look like an idiot. There was a guy, he came around the corner and there was a rock. He was like, oh, you're just sitting there. And I was like, yeah, just trying to get a shot. I'm pretty happy with the shot, so. A helicopter here, just flying about Glacier. Well, that would save me a lot of time if I knew they did helicopter rides up here. But I wouldn't have got the journey, you know. It would have been too easy. Anyway, here we are. The tranquility being ruined by a helicopter. Never mind. The view is still absolutely ridiculous. So I think I'll probably come back up here. I'd love to camp up here and swim in the lake and just really spend some time just hanging out. It's so beautiful. I don't really want to go down there because the helicopter's down there. The reason I come to places like this is for some peace and quiet and just to be in the stillness of nature. So I don't really want to talk to anybody. It's guys. They're getting married. Well, they're getting their marriage pictures, but it looks like they're getting married. They're getting married. Time to leave the happy couple behind and head back. It is ten to five. So I was informed in a past life that these are called Spaniards and they're really hard. Very, very spiky. And my legs are getting absolutely ravaged by these things. Like, I don't know. More of ghoul-y red roll legs due to the New Zealand bush. Back into the woods we go. The deep tech begins again. I'm pretty tired now. Still got a fair bit to go. What are the stats? Old watch. 18 Ks. Wow. All right. OK. 18 Ks. That's quite a bit more than I was expecting, actually. Probably why I'm getting a bit tired. 18 Ks. We're probably not even halfway back and I've still got a lot of an obstacle course to do. All right. The emergency sugar stash has been unleashed. Look at this path. Look at this path. This is the kind of path situation I've been dealing with. We call it a path. Just a bit of a way. Just chunder. Chunder central. Look how nice we are. Look at that second viewpoint. We're like way up that valley. I bet there's some animals on those slopes just now enjoying the last of the sun. Wish I had some binos so I could check that. See if I can see any. That's it. We're out the worst of it. In the last of that beautiful golden light. As we head down that way to the car. Nearly done. Oosh. All done. That is eight and a half hours and about 25 kilometers. Yowza. That's a decent day. That is a much bigger day than I was expecting because I like to come into things relatively blind. But we've made it. Sun was out. Stunning stunning vistas. Look at this to finish. That golden light on those mountains. But it's not over yet guys. We're gonna find the biggest burger in town and smash it. Osbury's over there in the distance. Unfortunately everywhere was shut in the Glenorchy or a place I wanted to eat. Anyway and so we've got some tuna salad instead. Yeah what a shame. Anyway I'm happy with it. It's lemon pepper tuna. It's actually really tasty and that's that's the end of that. What a great day. My legs are really sore now. Um yeah. Get out. Get amongst it. That was a great time. Love exploring. The outdoors are there. I'm bringing it after it.