Day 8 Clarence to Ward

Walked today - Rapid and me 48.2km. Ella about 14km. 63543 steps.

Apart from a very cold southerly that carried on all day the weather today was OK. Mostly overcast but with the sun poking out occasionally. It threatened to rain a couple of times but never came to more than a few drops.

There was very little traffic early in the day but it increased as the day went on. The ferries weren't sailing today (more about that later) and the Hundalee hill road was probably closed for much of the morning. I walked the first 7km with both dogs and got through them in really good time. As I was getting a period in the afternoon when the Voltarin had worn off and it was too soon to take more I tried taking just 1 pill with the intention of topping up every 4 hours. After 2 hours I was in pain so I took 2 more Voltarin. That last OK for 3 more hours but then I started to have pain again.

I have worked out that the blister on the sole of my foot is where the elastic at the toe end of the compression stocking was. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be getting nay better. I also managed to tear a nail on my big toe today.

Peter was supposed to come across on the ferry this morning but the ferries were cancelled all day. Peter booked a flight across and Paul used his airpoints to get a flight back.

I had thought about walking the dogs along the beach the 2.5km from Ellerton to Kekerengu. As I had decided to do extra distance today to give me a time buffer to ensure I arrived in Blenheim on time i flagged this away but I did let the dogs have 10 minutes play on the beach at Ellerton (photo). I got to Kekerengu on time. Paul made a collection in the tea rooms while I ate the food he had brought.

Paul stayed with me along the narrow parts to Tirohanga Stream and then left for town to get Peter. I made hard work of getting to Waima River bridge at about 2pm - half an hour late. I was in pain and low on motivation. I took more Voltarin. Paul then walked ahead of me as a pace man for the remaining 15km. Every time I caught up with him he put on a little spurt. We got to Ward having made up 10 minutes and completed the 15km in 160minutes.

Paul then went back to the airport. Peter and I are spending the night with Sally and Stephen Hartnell at Spring Creek. I had a relaxing shower while Sally prepared a very nice dinner. Somehow I have taken the whole evening to write this and it s now bed time.

Really good news the donations are continuing to keep ahead of my $10 for each kilometre walked target. I have $3560 raised and I have walked 299km.