3/12/21 Friday
Applied for the Covid Vaccination Passport online and blown away that it took less than 5 minutes to have it installed on my phone. Who would have believed they could make it that easy.
Walked up town to find some breakfast (and coffee of course) and the cafe insisted on scanning my passport. Then I went for a good relaxing swim at the hot pools. Not allowed in without the passport. They are onto it here.
Washing all done and food purchased for next section. I’m ready to go – probably Sunday morning, if the weather is suitable.
Discovered last night major rubbing and blisters on my lower back from my pack rubbing on it. Hopefully that will clear up by Sunday.
What do I think of the Waiau Pass Section?
Very much easier than the Richmond Ranges with way less serious climbing.
Apart from that the scenery was lots more diverse. Whereas the Richmonds have lots of open tops with some beech valleys the Waiau is some open tops with heaps of wide open grassed river valleys. Nearly 2 full days of walking these flat and easy valleys. To me the Waiau was extremely scenic with magnificent vistas that stretched from the river flats to the tops of the hills and for several kms in each direction. To walk through this kind of landscape is really humbling as the scale of the beauty is so vast.
Physically this section was a walk in the park compared to the Richmonds.
Gotta have a soak in the hot pools 
Covid passports required everywhere 
Cooked a good breakfast for myself
