Misty frost, soggy feet, numb hands, this can't be beat. I'm in love. It's so beautiful... So peaceful and free. Not a person around, alone with my thoughts and strong legs... It's just me.

I can't imagine what it will be like when it really gets cold. When it sleets so hard I won't be able to see. Right now, everything is perfect and my shadow is standing tall.

I took a 4x4 track until I felt confident enough to go off trail. Struggle. I did this until the highway, new struggle. A beautiful lunch on a black sand beach. Only a few drops of rain.

I made it to Ásbyrgi hours ahead of schedule. Burger, beer, charge devices, fall asleep. Head resting in my greasy plate of fries. My body isn't used to the time change and there's so much I want to see. Seven more miles before I can set up tent tonight. I don't mind though, because this is where I need to be.

It didn't get dark today. I continued down or up, I'm not sure which direction. Is it morning, is it night? I left so late, there was only one other person in sight. We camped together under rainbows, above a canyon, silty raging water below. I needed this company. I was deflating from exhaustion.

Thank you, Iceland... for bringing me so much light.

It was 842 degrees... Fahrenheit and Celsius combined. I didn't leave Lake Tekapo until 5:00 p.m. in hopes of avoiding the hottest part of the day. Ha. Right. Nice try. I love the desert and used to drink sunshine in a tall glass with a slice of lime, but it is something else down here in New Zealand. It sucks all the energy from you with a fierceness I can't quite describe. With every step forward, I fall back a meter or two. What a delight to see the tiny telephone hut emerge for my night of cool sleep.

I accidentally slept in, perhaps my body needed the rest. Oh, how I wanted some early cool hours of walking. I can't complain... It was still beautiful... With an all day view of Mt. Cook and plenty of opportunities to jump in the lake.

The trees have completely disappeared for this last week on trail. I even had to crawl into a spiky bush one lunch break to shade myself from the sun's blistering rays. But the mountain passes are still here... and I sure love it up high. I'm drinking gallons of water, it would be just horrible to go dry. Oh, and the sandflies are on vacation. They don't like this heat either. Finally, I cowboy camped... 4 nights in a row, at that! I guess it was a blessing Wanaka was booked out.

When The Sunset And Sunise Blend Together As One

Welcome to the land of NO SHADE