Day 26 Arahura to Jacksons

Walked today by Mike & Rapid 42.7km 60077 steps walked by Ella about 20km

Good walking weather today - overcast but no rain, a light breeze to keep things cool. No rain. I leave the West Coast tomorrow so that is its last chance to rain on me.

I but a triple layer of padding over the blister on my left heel and it was much more comfortable. The little toe on my right foot is still painful. No problem with shin pain today but I just ambled along and took an hour longer than planned to complete the work.

The walk started today 6km up Old Christchurch from the Arahura bridge. It was a fairly easy day as the route was up the Arahura Valley, follow Kawhata Creek, climb over a small hill to the Taramakau Valley and then follow the Taramakau River to Jacksons. Alex dropped me off and then came through half an hour later so I had time to think if I had forgotten anything. It was only the jelly beans which I finished up not using anyway. Lyndall and her husband Thain arrived about 8:20am and provided support until I was 1km Jacksons, where they had established Fiona was waiting for me.

There is very little traffic on Old Christchurch Road so Ella and Rapid were off lead for 3.5 hours which they loved. Ella was getting way ahead of me on occasions and a couple of times was very slow to get out of the way of the traffic - but the drivers all waited for her to move out of the way. Even the driver of the red sports car who accelerated away heavily slowed down to go past.

As I did yesterday I put shoes on Rapid's rear feet only and he stayed like that all day. I don't know why his rear feet are more sensitive to walking on the road but they clearly are.

Lyndall walked with me for over 30km today. Initially with her greyhound for a hour, then all 3 whippets. After getting for to the main road Ella went into the car and Rapid onto a lead. Lyndall walked with Dominique for a few hours and then with Scooter and Darby. At lunch break I discovered that I didn't have the dogs lunch so they got a chicken sandwich and bacon & egg pie. I think Rapid has a small stomach problem as he brought up both his lunch and dinner half way through eating, but at them again.

I was going to walk Ella for a little after lunch but she was rather stiff so I left her riding in the van until the last rest break and walked her the 5km from there to Jacksons.

Fiona drove back to Hokitika while I had a brief nap. Fiona is having asthma issues with the coal smoke - I hope the air in Arthur's Pass tomorrow is clearer.

Some random thoughts from today -
- All bridges should be single lane. There were 2 single lane bridges today. At both I collected monye. It hasn't been universally true but certainly I have collected money at way more than half the single lane bridges I have crossed.

- Drinking alcohol in a car is socially irresponsible behaviour so I havfe no surprise at the number of alcohol bottles littering the footpath. But why are there so manu=y V and Lift Plus bottles? Is there something in them that gives an uncontrollable urge to throw the bottle out onto the side of the road?