Day 4 New Pelion Hut to Kia Ora Hut
All day it was heavily overcast after light rain stopped in the early morning.
We decided not to do Mount Ossa(the highest Mt in Tassie, 1617 meters )hike this time.
There was no point going there to have no view at all.(Eddie’s point of view after Suze expressed her opinion.)
(Secretly I was relieved that I didn’t have to do more than 3 hours’ extra hike this time. I might have followed them if they really wanted though.)
Instead we tried to have a look around Old Pelion Hut before we left which presumably was regarded as one of platypus habitats.
They said this unique Australian semi aquatic species could be spotted around there if you were lucky.
But best time to see them was just before sunset or just after sunrise.
It was a slim chance to see them but we tried at least.
To walk back to reach this historic old hut and stroll around a creek down there was quite a relaxing activity.
First time ever we didn’t rush leaving a hut for a day’s walk.
It was almost after 10am when we finally started walking on the track.
Half way through we reached a point where the track to Mt Pelion East(1461 metres high)was on the left and the track to Mt Ossa was on the right.
Mt Pelion East peak was seen even from there but it was a great distance to reach Mt Ossa
passing a forest followed by a fairy tale garden(?) and then expansive boulders land on top etc.
It seemed no one attempted this great hike that day as a side trip among people of our group.
We stopped and rested there briefly reminiscing the previous experience of
the wonderful track all the way to top of Mt Ossa and the million dollars worth of views.
When we arrived at Kia Ora Hut it was still very early around two-ish in the afternoon.
Some hikers did not stay and kept on walking to the next hut.
Suze reached a status by then she started feeling less enthusiastic about this hike.
She asked me if we wanted to go to the next hut.
Well I was tempted a little but it was too long a draw.
Even though we could do that we had to think about following schedules and bookings.
Such as a ferry ride on the sixth day to Cynthia Bay
and then a bus ride to Hobart at Cynthia bay followed by accommodation reservation at Hobart.
Reluctantly she gave in.
But she became alive very soon to learn she could sleep in the tent.
Weather was getting better and there was no sign for rain any more.
I did not have any reason to stop them from sleeping in the tents.
But I still wanted to sleep insdie the hut.
While they were pitching tents at the exactly same spot as in 2015
I went for a quick wash near the creek.
It was a mission you had to perform both promptly and privately
as much as possible.
Water was icy cold and you couldn't wash properly nor with soap but
I couldn't afford missing it ever whenever chances came.
I saw something which looked like worn out rags spread and hung around the hut.
It must have been a pair of hiking socks once upon a time
but it had too big holes which occupied more than one thirds of the thing which couldn't function as socks at all I was sure.
I never ever understood why you wanted to use those kinds of thing torturing your precious feet for a hike like Overland Track?
Definitely this person's mental was not normal I decided.
It was quite windy and chilly in the evening but
we stayed outside for dinner free from small and smelly(?) suffocating hut.
In this hut two sets of two-story huge size bunks were facing each other the half of the space and the front half was with tables and chairs for cooking and eating.
It was the smallest hut in the whole journey.
I was spending a short time with Eddie inside his tent before dinner but left him for his own comfort.
After dinner Suze came into my spot inside hut to chat with me about nothing particular
before bed.
It's a kind of bonus when you go hiking and camping.
Spending time together more closely by sharing all sorts of expreriences 24/7 whether good or bad.
And these would be resources we later on would link each other together.
I couldn't sleep very well that night again!!!
There were so many light sleepers in this group just like me.
Fortunately Suze announced smugly next morning she slept so well and comfortably which was good enough for me.
Day 5 Kia Ora Hut to Bert Nichols Hut
If we wanted we could visit numerous magnificicent waterfalls this day.
This time we only focused on walking on main track.
It was a fine day.
Weather got better and hotter as day progressed.
After we had a very refreshing break at Ducane Hut we took off our heavy jackets prepared for the warm day.
Eddie wanted to go first quickly from there.
I had delveloped a headache due to constant lack of sound sleep.
And soon Suze’s morning cheerful spirits were took over by her impatience undesirably.
She could have walked way faster to end her ordeal normally but because of me she could not do that.
Suze remembered I got confused in the forest a short time on the second day so she
didn't want to leave me alone either even though I wanted her to do so.
Why did I tell them my short mishap on the second day?
I greatly regretted it.
I was sure I was ok with my own slow but steady pace which was better than any average hikers so far.
But it did not give me a great comfort at that moment.
I got a little bit upset and sad at the same time.
As always fortunately I was gradually able to forget about it by the time we got to the hut.
Eddie already set up his tent on the best spot.
The sun was very strong and warm we were hot and sweaty after a long walk.
Eddie spread everything out to dry up real properly on the platform and I joined there too.
This hut did not have many convenient tent platforms nearby.
They were all scattered farther from the hut.
That’s why Eddie went quickly.
We took the best only one in open area over-looking the hut and another one a bit further behind for Suze.
We passed numerous creeks and streams on the way but
we could not find any near there so we did not have a chance to wash our sweats.
But later on I saw a few people washing their clothes and themselves with the precious tank water.
I did not think it’s okay and find it quite disappointing actually.
We cooked instant noodles for lunch under the boiling hot sun and we ate fighting with big annoying flies
which were cruelly attacking us.
I normally didn’t eat these but it was delicious even on a hot day like that.
This hut got an award for environmental friendly design I heard and I had to admit it was a magnificent hut with a huge dining kitchen area and 3 big sleeping quarters separately.
Also it had outer room with meshed doors where we were able to hang all sorts of gears and packs.
But I preferred New Pelion Hut which was situated in a flat area and we were able to get more logical access to places around there.
Sleeping area looked very dark and dank especially on a sunny brilliant day.
I wanted to sleep in the tent for the first time away from the crowds.
I knew one of the hikers in our group was a smoker to my absolute horror but I was shocked again and disliked it very much when we were passing his tent accidentally after dinner.
If you had a passion for this hike you should have quit smoking which was my own personal opinion.
Smoking cigarettes in the purest areas of world seemed like a crime to me if I exaggerated it.
After all your work which was meant good for your body and mind why would you do it to your precious body?
Except that critical defect he looked like a true hiker though.
He pitched his tent every day on the track enjoying nature regardless of any weather conditions and he was a very nice shy man I found.
Typically temperatures dropped dramatically when night fell and I happily came into my sleeping bag fully layered with all my clothes in our lovely tent.
I fell asleep soon enough but I woke up in the middle of night feeling like peeing.
I didn’t want to go to the toilet which was very far down from our tent and even worse...very smelly.
Eddie encouraged me to go to a bush toilet (thank god)and he was coming with me.
And then he added nonchalantly that a possum took my slippers.
How and when?
I didn't remember I heard it which meant I slept really well!!!
I was suddenly laughing about this for no particular reason.
This kind of silly laugh must have come from my being content I guess.
It was one bloody good night for me feeling cosy and snug.
Eddie went outside of tent to walk down a few metres and came back with my lost pair of sleepers.
Possum must have thought it was food first but realized it's not before too late.
On top of those already happy moments
before I crawled back into my cosy sleeping bag
I happened to look up at the night sky to gaze sparkling millions of stars.
Oh my god!
What a great decision I made to sleep in the tent finally on the last night!