After trudging for what seems like hours, we finally reach the end of the walk on Turkey's Flat. I sit down on a rock to have a bite to eat. Only then I notice that I am sitting in a dried-up river full of sharp, jagged pebbles, slightly damp dirt and dew drenched grass from last night's drizzle. Ahead I see tussock that stretches far and wide until spiky moss-covered matagouri bushes take over.
A bit further on, the mountains to the side of me bloom with leafy green trees and colourful mountain flowers just like (more or less scattered) the botanical gardens. The river ahead with pristine water bubbling and frothing, races the tributaries towards the sea, ready to wash away anyone who went too far. And the bridge rattles dangerously as huge 10 ton trucks lumber over the hills.
In the distance I see gigantic snow-capped mountains looming over the valley reaching into the cloudless blue sky. The same can't be said for half way down as fog engulfs almost the whole pass.
"Time to go," says a voice from behind me. In the car I feel tired and exhausted like I could drop to sleep here and now. But one happy thing dawns to my mind just before I doze off; It was the first time I have completed this walk! When I was younger we went barely 100m in, now I have done the whole thing. The last thing I hear is my brother saying "Why is there a Moa sign?" Beside the pub over the bridge. I drop off to sleep.
