Day 45 Cromwell to Alexandra

Happy Birthday Ella

Walked today by Mike & Rapid 44.5km Walked by Ella 13.9km

A fine warm day today. Because of the published times for being places we jumped around like mad things. The first leg was 4.7km from Cromwell branch to Goldfields monument. Then it was back to the Kawerau Gorge to do the 10km not walked yesterday. Then back to Goldfields Monument for 4 km up Cromwell Gorge. Then into Clyde and walk to Alexandra then back to Cromwell Gorge to walk to Clyde. If I can make up the remaining 7.1 km over the next 2 days life will be easier.

The day got off to a bad start with Rapid kicking off a shoe in the big park by the Mall in Cromwell and it taking me quarter of an hour to find it. I also had to retie my shoes 3 times before I got comfortable. Ella walked with us to the Goldfields Monument.

The leg through Kawerau Gorge went very well. I was walking quite quickly - especially the last 6km that I was trying to do in 1 hour. Ngaire tried to walk with me a bit but I was going to fast for her to keep up. My mission to do 6km in 1 hour was saboutaged in the nicest way by Mrs Jones from Jones Fruit Stall. She called me in and gave me a cash donation, a bottle of water and a bag of fruit. I slowed down a bit under the weight of the fruit and took 1 hr 5 min for the 6km.

A quick hop along to Cromwell Gorge and an uneventful 4km. Like yesterday the spot we needed to find had no landmarks so I tied a poo bag to a reflector post again.

I had my second break on the drive into Clyde. While I set off walking Ngaire did a collection. The barman at the Dunstan Hotel was very helpful giving advice on which vet to take Ella too for her cartrophen jab. Glenis, the Alexandra Cancer Society support person walked with me into Alexandra - she had walked across Alexandra first from her home on the other side of the Clutha River. The 2 Judy's in the branch at Alexandra were flat out as it is blossom festival weekend so we were let into the staff room to make our own tea.

Another drive back down the Cromwell Gorge and I started walking, Ngaire & Ted went to check in at our accommodation at the backpackers. They were given the full tour and so by the time they got back out to me Ngaire had no time to walk. They gave me some food and then took Ella off to the vet and we arranged for Ted to meet me at Dunstan Hotel.

To walk into the traffic means walking on the lake side of the road that has no verge. There is a wide but uneven verge on the other side. It has the advantage that Rapid can be off lead, I am not having to squash myself against a barrier every time traffic comes along but it is very uneven and was rather hard on my heels - which have new blister again today.

I got to the Dunstan Hotel at 6:15pm. It was fairly busy and I took up a collection while having a beer. Ngaire had pasta cooked when I arrived at the backpackers but the food had been so good today and I had eaten so much I wasn't hungry. There were bed pushing races and a fire engine pulling competition in the main street on Alexandra. There was a big crowd so I took the dogs out and collected some more money. Ella owever was freaking out because of the noise so Ngaire took her back to the van.

The dogs got given a large bag of bones by the butcher for Ella's birthday so they will be enjoying them for a few days.

I have lost another toenail - number 6. I think I failed to mention when number 5 came off last week. I also have a new problem with Rapid. He now is fairly firmly attached to the van - his new home - and is chasing it when it goes past.