Walked today by Mike and Rapid 45.1km Ella walked about 16km. 61257 steps.
All reputable sources will agree that wild elephants are not found in New Zealand. There are a few in zoos and couple in circuses and that is it. However today when passing through Mapua I noticed an elephant rubbing its back on a stop sign. A stealthy approach resulted in a live capture of an excellent specimen of Elephas raggity. The photo above proves succesful capture. This pachyderm is now living on the dashboard on the van and enjoying a the view of out the front left corner of the windscreen.
A note to people who may have lost a pachyderm. If Elephas raggity is yours and beat down the bars of your cot to escape then please email me (mbutler@ihug.co.nz) and I will arrange a safe return.
Kathy K (I'm not going to attempt to spell it) and Split joined me for the walk from Richmond to Motueka. They both turned up just before me at the National Bank in Richmond wearing splendid yellow hi-viz jackets. We were off only 2 or 3 minutes late with a cold breeze blowing. This had gone by 9am and it was a very pleasant day from then on. Ella wore soft boots on her front paws for her first walk of the day as she had a small nick in one when I checked them yesterday and today I couldn't tell which one. A couple of minutes of high-step dance before she decided they were okay to walk in. For some reason they didn't go on when she decided she needed to walk for a bit at 10am and all was fine so I left them off.
The turn from Landsdowne Rd into Appleby Highway was extremely difficult to negotiate. There is no verge at all and no visibility around the corner because of the motor camp hedge. Crossing Appleby Bridge I was a little apprehensive Alison was going to mow me down as she found the switch for the flashers she had forgotten to engage before getting onto the bridge. The traffic was very well behaved on the bridge.
The first 20km went very well and I was on time at the 20km stop but took a little too long over it. Kathy got a ride with Alison for the last kilometre of uphill and got some strapping on her blister and set off again just as I arrived at the 20km stop. I did 3 very fast km and nearly got back on time but then little things started happening that cost me a couple of minutes at a time and I finished up 10 minutes late at the Motueka roundabout. Kathy, much to her credit made it all the way, except for the 1km ride up the bypass and another short distance across the bridge just before Motueka. Alison had done a very good job of dressing my feet and I was pain free most of the day - One toe was still niggling, I acquired another small blister late afternoon and the shin got a bit sore at the end of the day. However I made it through the afternoon without pain killers.
I couldn't resist an ice cream when we got to Toad Hall in Motueka - very pleasant it was too. I made it to the ANZ in Motueka only 10 minutes late. A reporter from The Guardian Motueka was waiting for photographs and an interview. I had a great time yarning with the staff while I ate lunch - then a couple more photos before heading off. I was very impressed with the staff at Motueka, friendly and informal, but very people focussed - they even gave me a baby to hold.
I took more than 30 minutes at the branch so I was about 25 minutes late leaving. I was also a bit slow getting started - partly because the lovely people of Motueka wanted to give money - and they don't do things at big city pace - they love to tell or hear a story.
The dog walking belt Marion Pope made has been splendid but today I had lost so much off my previously rather generously sized bum it wouldn't stay up. In Motueka Alison was referred to a man who did shoe repairs, who referred her to a saddler, who referred her to a tent maker who took it in by 2 inches in less than a minute and at no cost.
The road from Motueka to Alexander Bluff bridge was one of thebits of the road that I was most worried about for the whole trip. The fence is very, very close to the edge of the road, the road is narrow, there are lots of corners you can't see around and the traffic moves fairly fast. After a bit of debate we decided the safest way was for Alison to go ahead and stop in the van somewhere with good visibility and slow the traffic. This worked really well. There was just one truck with a load of beehives that didn't slow down. I was just about to jump into the fence when they pulled across without ever slowing down. Everyone else was really good - especialy one Talley's truck driver.
The warm up is over and today the first of 4 days that all exceed 40km. 45.1 today, 44.7 tomorrow, 42.7 on Friday and 45.8 on Saturday
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