Day 25 "Rest" Day Hokitika

Walked today by Ella, Rapid & I 10.5km 18423 steps

By 7am I was definitely awake so I took the dogs down to the beach and played a bit throw the stick with Rapid while Ella patrolled the sand dunes. Back home for a leisurely breakfast and then it was off to finish off yesterday's walk. I took it easy - 2hr 15m. The dogs had a bit over 6km off lead and were really happy. Rapid was wearing shoes on his back feet only. The back feet seem to be suffering from bruising more while it is the front feet that suffer more from the shoes plucking hair.

I really need to trim my beard but a cruise around town failed to find a barber. Found several womens hair dressers but they were all closed. Then it was to try and find without success a whitebait fritter. One cafe had whitebait sammies on the menu but they had run out of whitebait at midday. I settled for bacon and eggs while Alex went with pancakes. There was a Westland Dairy tanker driver in the cafe so I got to give thanks for the consideration the drivers have given me.

In the afternoon I had a spa - the spa at 252 Beachside is out of action but they arrnaged for me to have one at the motel just down the road. I left the dogs in the motel while I had a spa as Alex had taken the van to Hokitika Gorge. When I got back Ella was on a bed - fortunately my one which I had covered as I expected one of the dogs to finish up there. I spent the rest of the afternoon catching up with emails, looking for accomodation at Methven and Omarama and doing the August NALA results. I haven't come up with any bright ideas for Twizel. I think I will contact the branch tomorrow and see if they can arrange some cut price accommodation.

This evening was spent at the Hokitika Chartered Club. It was pretty dead until the Cobden Netball team came in - they had just won the West Coast ctitle and were in a very merry mood.

I now have 2nd genreation blisters on my heels - the skin under the old blisters has blistered now. I think I will have heel blisters the rest of the trip.