Another lazy morning, but instead of drizzle and clouds it was blue sky and sunshine. We decided to do some laundry and let it dry in the sun and not in our van. Most of our day was enjoying the sun watching our clothes dry. Not a bad way to spend the day. Around 3 or so we figured we best leave the motor camp before we had to pay for one more night. Our plan was to go to Motueka and stay at Mc Kee campground. However, Paul kept replaying the conversation with the Back to Bush lady about Cobb Valley just outside of Takaka. Cobb Valley Rd takes you to Cobb resivour in the mountains and has great access to Kahurangi N. P. including several different tramps into huts and lots of day hikes to get into the park. When we got to the T in the road (left to Motueka and right to Cobb Valley) we stopped. Looking at our map it showed half the road sealed and the other half showed the yellow (unsealed) road with the 4x4 icon on it. Naturally realizing that our mini van bottoms out on a pine cone and is no 4x4, I said, "we might not want to try it". Paul recalling the conversation with the kiwi's perfectly said it was a farm road really and we should just check it out, there was a hut at the end of the road that we could stay in. We turned right, not yet knowing the road horror's we would face!
The road did go by some pasture land, and quickly started to follow the Cobb river through a steep rocky canyon then it began to climb. This section was sealed but one lane, and there was a huge recent slip so 15ft of it was gravel. Then it got even narrower and higher, you could look ahead and see no land under the river side of the road you were about to drive over, all this while hugging the mountain in an constant S shape as it is slipping into the river. I felt like we were just about to our destination when we reached the small hydro station going over a rickety one lane bridge, and reading a large sign "Proceed at your own risk" these kiwi's…
We proceed on the 4x4 section of this very steep gravel road. While it had been recently graded it was still very narrow and hairpin turns up this mountain, I don't know what we would have done if a vehicle was coming the other direction, there were not very many "pull outs or shoulders" so to speak on the way. It seemed like we have been driving for 3hr on this road, but it had only been about an hour, at every large turn up I kept hoping that we would come to the end, but we just kept climbing. Finally we came to the top of the saddle. No hut? hmmm, you mean this is not the end of the road?!
We stopped the van and looked at the nice map and information shelter, this place is popular with locals that have 4x4's. Just when i get back to the van to grab my jacket I hear something boiling. Crap, our van has overheated! Ugh…At this point I have been terrorized for about an hour with our drive, now i realize that we have more driving to do, but can not do it until our girl cools down (and i don't mean me!) Paul sensing my frustration gives me a hug and tells me everything is ok and we can drive back out tonight since we have a few more hours of day light. We had a nice conversation about how our van is our home for now and we can't afford new tires or mechanic bills if we drive her on roads that she is not suited for since we do not have jobs. Agreeing that this will be our last 4x4 journey with her we split a Peanut butter and Jelly sandwich and wait for her to finnish cooling off. Just then an beater car with two grizzly Adams looking kiwi's roll up to sign the intentions book (a log book to inform DOC about your plans so if you don't return they know were to start looking.) They asked if we needed help with our van, we said no and Paul asked them about the tramps in the area. Now that Paul's interest is sparked again, I brace myself knowing that our plans have changed and any hope I had for getting out of this valley with our van intact are out the window.
"Babe, I talked to those guys and we only have a short drive down to the hut or this car park, and there is this cool hike to an alpine lake". Gaging by my one eyebrow raise he continues with some logic. "It is getting late and there is a pay phone down at the damn settlement, so if the van does have a problem we could actually call for help, and we did just drive all the way out here, it would be a shame not to at least stay the night for free and get in a hike, don't ya think?"
Im still not sure how I agreed to forge ahead, but I could see how excited Paul was on the area and he is so dang cute to say no to. The steep drive down was only about 15min and at the bottom were homes I guess for the dam workers. We could either stay at the hut that was still about 10 min away and I'm not even sure if it really is at the end of the road, or go to the car park that was 3min away. I voted for the car park to let our van rest for the night and lessen our chances for a flat. The driveway up to the car park was the short but crazy, huge ruts with sharp rocks. Paul did some great maneuvering and got us to the top. There was a Ford Focus parked there and a small kiosk with another intentions book. Having a look at the book we see the couple that have the Ford are staying in the Sylvester hut, it's about a 2.5 hr pack in. We set up camp at the car park and planned to do the hike in the morning.
While heating up some left over tacos we are joined by a brave Weka. We heard them in the bush for about and hour, but one finally decided he was hungry enough and we did not seem threatening. We spent the last 10min of our dinner shooing the Weka away, little bugger would eat right off our plate if we'd let him. Seeing the other two in his posse we decided to leave dishes for tomorrow night since we did not need them till then. Paul kept looking at our front right tire, it was looking a bit low, so we went to bed hoping it would still be full in the morning.
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