12 March 1998: Cathy didn't join us because she had broken her arm. Some photos are by John McCarthy [JM] or Alan Rogers [AR].

The start of the Heaphy is very pretty and easy going. However, one soon learns not to stop for long and the sandflies are more numerous and vicious then I have EVER encounted. They didn't let up until past Lewis. It was cover-up every exposed part and go for a stroll to avoid the clutch of obnoxious Cantabrian trampers we encountered (luckily they were heading the opposite way the next day). After Lewis the track heads steadily up to MacKay.