I leap up into a ready pose and scan the woods for signs of the jungle beast, but all is now quiet. Foolish cat, I would have shown it no such mercy. I check for wounds, but can find none apart from a few fresh snags on my sweater. It was a feral cat, Fluffy gone wild. I amble on down the trail taking in the profusion of ferns and towering beech trees.
Birdcalls echo through the forest deep, lending an enchanting air to the place.
So to say a tramp in the New Zealand bush is an out-worldly experience, is not a great leap of the imagination, I walk soaking it all in. The lake comes into view before me. On the lakeshore to my delight are several rowboats. Something along the lines of, Gee, if you go on the Lake Waikareiti hike you can rent boats for five dollars, I have keys available, would have been appreciated, or even Lake, boat, rent, key, would have sufficed given the ranger s obviously busy schedule. I stand there staring at the sign and imagine several grisly ends to the park ranger.