Day 39 Dunstan Downs to Lindis Valley

Walked by Mike & Rapid 45.3km 62149 steps. Walked by Ella 8km

As I was starting from our accommodation this morning Fiona didn't have to get up to drive me. I set the alarm for 5:45 and let Ella and Rapid out of the van on waking. They played around in the dark like puppies. I was ready to go at 6:30am. Fiona had woken as I was going through final preparations. Once I was ready I put Ella back in the van. Fiona tells me she howled after I left.

There was very little traffic the first hour - perhaps a dozen vehicles. I let Rapid walk across a bridge off lead for the first time on the trip as in the early morning I could here vehicles coming quite a long way and I knew there were none close. Just before 7:30am I got to the road closure gates on the Omarama side on Lindis Pass. This was 1300km walked. Fiona caught up with me shortly afterwards and we discovered he had lost one of the shoes she had made. It was nearly worn out so we just replaced it.

The walk up Lindis Pass is fairly easy. Only the last 1.5km are steep. The rest is just a reasonable grade that doesn't slow the walking. I reached the top - 965m, the highest point on my walk, at 9:45am - I had used up 20 minutes of the 30 minutes leeway I gave myself with the early start. I walked Ella for the first 3km down Lindis Pass - she pulled like mad so maybe I should have used for for the last few kilometres of the climb to the summit. There has been so much grit spread on Lindis Pass and then swept off that the verge is liked a shingly beach to walk on in places.

The remaining 30km of the day were almost all down hill which made the walking so much more pleasant. The third rest stop was taken at the road closure gates. This was 1000km from the finish line in Christchurch. By then the sunshine had been replaced by cloud and it look like it would rain.

About 5km from the end of todays walk Rapid got a small cut on a front pad. It wasn't bleeding but he was uncomfortable walking on it so one of Marion's boots went on it. He was fine after that. I noticed that at the end of the walk today the paws that had sboots on got only a quick lick and it was the paw without a boot that got seriously licked.

Ella walked the last 5km but she definitely has sore feet so I am going to try putting boots on her too tomorrow and see how she goes.

I made it to the finish of todays walk at 4:35pm 10minutes befhind schedule. I could have put in the effort and made it on time but I decided to enjoy the final break rather than rushing it. The good luck with the weather continues. The rain started about 15 minutes after we started driving to Wanaka.

The bad news is I have a new blister on my left heel - the only part of my feet that is still really sore.

We are staying to night in Scott Criglington's family bach. Fiona is really happy as it has a bath so she is having a soak. The van unfortunately is too high to get into the garage so the dogs will not be getting a warm night- however it is still a lot warmer than Twizel and Dunstan Downs.

Kate is coming across to see Fiona briefly tomorrow before she gets on the bus to go back to Christchurch and then fly home to Wellington. Ngaire and Ted take over support tomorrow. I think Ted is going to be seriously overworked looking after Ngaire and her broken shoulder and me.