Hiking in pajamas
Yesterday we made it to the northern end of Te Waipounamu on the Te Araroa. Will and I woke up around 2 am to go pee and see the phenomenon of bioluminescence in the water. Tiny plankton lit up as I walked through the water like electric sparks around my feet. I bet it is even more fantastic in the summer. We fell back asleep for a few hours then I was wide awake. "Want to start hiking now to see the sunrise?" I whispered to Will around 5:15 am. "Uhhhhhhh, mmmmmm, sure.." was not the most enthusiastic response but I took that to mean yes and soon we were packing up. There was a morepork or ruru (New Zealand's native owl) calling in the distance, like a watchful guardian in the night. My alarm set for 6:45 went off just as we reached the saddle and there was just enough light to turn off my headlamp. A view of Schoolhouse Bay, where we spent the night, was yet to emerge in the dark. To our east, there was a stunning view of Motuara island and what we guessed w...