Day 5 - Boat Party!!

So this morning we were up very early and eager to go on our mammoth hike. Today we hiked over what is famously known to the world as Mount Doom, from Lord of the Rings. Mount Doom is a Volcano which is still active periodically. It’s smoldering lakes and smoking ground makes for a very surreal landscape. You go from the extremes of wet and cold around its base to desolate sulphuric wasteland at it’s peak and southern part.
We started the walk at around 8:30 and walked to the Devil’s staircase. Even before we arrived at the staircase not even an hour into the journey, my feet were being grated by the hiking shoes I’d rented. I decided to put some toilet paper in to them and hope for the best. Throughout the journey every step was painfull!! We climbed steps, steep rocks and sheer drops to the nearest crater edge. It was very tough, very steep and slippery on both the way up and down. When we arrived at our first peak of a very steep section we stopped and had a deserved break. This happened a few times until we arrived at a flat part near the crater of the volcano. This was the area used for filming the entry to Mordor in the movies. And I think many of the shots around that area, a lot of it looked familiar. It was a great experience being in the area of an active volcano. As we arrived at the emerald lakes and started to decend from the volcano the sulphur smelt like really bad eggs. It was a great walk and a really good memory.
After getting back to the Hostel we had a party on a boat to attend with the whole group. We all brought some drinks and food for the barbie and had a great time on the lake. We dove from the boat and swam in the water at one point and had some games involving putting as many pegs on people and eating as many crackers as possible. It was a great bonding session for the whole bus. That was the party that was put on by the Club 1830 boys.

I think that’s it from today, Thanks for reading,

David & Holly

“Fart Sack” - A polite term for a sleeping bag or bed
Are you tired? I’m heading back to my Fart Sack