Saturday, August 20, 2011

Day 11 Blenheim to Havelock

Walked today 40.6km me and Rapid. Ella 17.9km. 55136 steps.

It was -3.5C in Blenheim at 6:40am when we were packing. By the time I started walking at 8am it was considerably warmer - definitely above zero. A fairly uneventful walk to Renwick. The Fairhall Diversion had a cycle track bypassing the road bridge so that was easy. A couple of places the verges were very wide and the dogs could be let off lead. While I was walking Pete was having dramas with the van. He had left the lights on for 10 minutes while I was getting the final organisation done. The van wouldn't start again. Fortunately a taxi had jumper leads. Abell Rentals very quickly arranged a replacement battery so unless we do something stupid there should be no more problems.

I wasn't hurrying today and got away from Renwick about 15minutes late. Five minutes walk up the road I find "Blue Yonder" a 1955 Seddon Mk6 originally the Gisborne Airport bus. It was great to finally meet Mat Foster but a pity I didn't have time to stop for a cuppa and a yarn.

Crossing the Wairau River there were 2 cars that passed me and the van into head on traffic. One of them a blue Mercedes Benz was not involved in a head on collision only because the car coming towards them stopped. It must be really nice to know you own the road.

After escorting me across the bridge Peter went the meet Alison. On arriving in Picton there was no sign of Alison. A phone call established Alison was still in Wellington thinking that the ferry was at 2pm from Wellington. A few phone calls got Alison on Soundsair. A complication was that Ella was in the van and it was too hot to leave here until Alison arrived. Peter cancelled the ferry crossing and took the return flight for Alison's aircraft.

This left me with a few problems of my own. I had no pain relief with me and very little food. I told Pete I would push on to the the Okaramio Tavern for lunch. Alas when got there I discovered it was closed - apparently for failing to serve food.

Not long after that John Mills, a house painter from Havelock stopped to give a donation. John had also seen me earlier in the week near Cheviot the previous Saturday on his way back from Christchurch where he is working. As I was feeling a bit sore I asked John if he had any aspirin or paracetemol in the car. John is really great guy. He drove into Havelock and came back with paracetemol, water for the dogs, ginger beer for me, blister dressings and antiseptic cream. Then the real surprise - he pulls out a bag of meat and feeds Rapid who had also missed out on lunch.

I little further along the road I met up with Rosina & Lawrence Palmer who alternated for several days. None of the blisters is infected - let's hope it stays that way.

I did think I may have developed shin splints on my rignt shin but looking at it this afternoon while enjoying the ginger beer with John and Lawrence I could see an obvious dent. So while it is tender and hurts with every step it is only a bruise and should heal soon.

Today was the best day yet for online fundraising with over $600 and over $100 in the bucket so a very successful day.

Ella is curled up next to me and as I hopped into bed Rapid was licking the inside of my shoes - I presume he likes the taste of my sweat.

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