After my freezing experience in the sleet crossing Stag Saddle, I decided to stay an additional day in Tekapo and enjoy the Springs a second time. As the Backpackers was already booked out, I changed to a tent side. So at 10am, after checking out I stood at the reception again to get a tent side. I couldn’t check in until 12:30pm though, so I left my backpack and fridge stuff at the reception and went into town to use the better reception there and sort my resupply.

In town I spent 2h sitting at the dark project cafe writing up my backlogged blogs as well as planning the next section for resupply. I also called up Cycle Journeys about renting a bike for the next day to cycle to Ohau.

Then I went to the supermarket, where I spent a long time going through the whole store in order to get everything that I want. This is the first time since my initial shopping in Christchurch that I actually have to plan and buy my whole food at once in a store. The previous store visits along trail only had me buy cheese and salami or snacks.

After about an hour I was out of the store and on my way back to the holiday park. By now I could get my stuff and set up my tent. After having my tent space sorted, I went to a picnic table in the shade and packed my food for the next section while eating my lunch of 500g of Coleslaw, a bag of chicken flavoured crisps and Ginger ale.

After getting all this sorted, I went to the pools at 4pm for my reduced entry. I them spent the next 5h hanging out at the Springs, with a stop at the cafe for a scoop of chips. It was very relaxing and at 9pm I went back to my tent, very warmed up.

Here I sorted my pack and got everything ready for the early bike drop off at 7:15am. I had another serving of my pasta for a second dinner again before going to bed at 10:30pm.