Day 41 Wanaka to Arrowtown

Walked by Mike & Rapid 51.8km 69622 steps. Walked by Ella 11km

This is the longest distance I have managed in 1 day so far. Jessica and Geoff were wonderful with their hospitality so it is really late.

The weather forecast was for showers and southwesterly winds developing. The shows threatened most of the day but when they came it was as hail or snow. Today was the last of the alpine parts of the route so it was fitting that I finally had some snow where it was expected.

The first two hours of the walk went really well. There was almost no one on the street in Wanaka at 6:40am when I set out (10 minutes late) so I let the dogs off lead as soon as I had crossed Ardmore St. Ella almost immediately tried to take advantage of the self opening door on McGregor's Bakery and go in side. Ella walked the first 5.2km as far as Riverbank Rd. By the first rest break I had made up the 10 minutes I was late. The walk up the Cardrona River is fairly easy for the first 26km to Cardrona township.

Rapid was on the lead from about 8km into the walk, apart from a few short bursts, until the last 5km. He wore his shoes on his rear feet today and the pad he cut 2 days ago caused no problems.

At 15km - about half way to the second break was the 1400km walked point. All went well until the second break. I was now 5 minutes ahead but I took too long for the break and finished up behind schedule. A misunderstanding about the hot chocolate at Cardrona pub saw me getting one to drink there, rather than to go so the schedule slipped again. It hailed very lightly and very briefly while I was at Cardrona. One of the fun things was being able to see Rapid out the open toilet window. He could hear me but couldn't see me. He kept looking for ages.

After Cardrona the road is winding and much narrower. I had to cross the road frequently to be on the outside of bends. I hit the third rest stop only 20 minutes behind timetable but this is the one where I need to change my socks and put arnica on my feet so it takes a while. After that the road starts to climb a little more but I was able to maintain 5kph until the top of the Cardrona Valley where the road starts to wind around Mt Scott. The last 3km slowed me down and a lost another 10 minutes to put me 50 minutes late at the summit. During that last 3km it also started to snow. The snow was melting as soon as it hot the ground bit a little built up on Rapid's fur and on my clothes.

I thought I would be able to make up some time going downhill but the first 4km are very steep and I had to keep a steady pace to stop from slipping on the grit. The end of the steep part of the descent was also the 900km to go mark. However I was able to get to Glencoe Rd by 4:45pm and was confident I could get to Arrowtown by 5:45pm. Ella walked from Glencoe Rd to the finish. Apart from the first 400m it was off lead and both dogs where happy to run around.

When I got to Tobin's Track I took Rapid's shoes off. He wanted to lick his back feet but finished up just spinning around for a few seconds like a dog chasing its ail until he remembered not to move his back feet as the head came around. When I did the route survey it took me 25 minutes to walk down Tobin's Track which is a 4WD track running from Arrowtown up to Crown Terraces. Today it took me 40 minutes.

It turns out Ford St isn't signposted so neither Ngaire nor Ted where able to find the end point. Ted had thought that this was where I was staying and tried both houses on the corner but couldn't find anyone home. What was really frustrating was seeing Ngaire stopped at the corner but not being able to get there before she drove off. However eventually we were all at the same place. Ted's bags were transferred across to the car and I then got hopelessly lost trying to find Jessica's place. She came and found me and I followed her home. I think I gave Mighty Mix the wrong house number so I will need to chase up the food in the morning.

Dinner was a wonderful meal with lots of interesting conversation. Jessica did my dressings for me so I didn't need to bother Ted.

Meanwhile I have the frustration that I have put my phone down somewhere. Everyone has gone to bed so I will just have to hope I wake up on time tomorrow.