Day 65 Timaru to Rangitata

Walked by Mike & Rapid 41.3km 56969 steps Walked by Ella approx 18km

Total distance walked 2204km Funds raised $19,465.28

Today was the first day of the last stage. This set of 4 and a half days will take me back to Christchurch.

One staff member from each of ANZ and National Bank in Timaru walked with me from central Timaru as far as Washdyke. Natasha also joined me for a few kilometres early in the day. I was expecting, and got a hot day so I started out in shirt, hi-viz vest and shorts and stayed that way all day - apart from gloves which I wore for the first couple of hours.

I left Timaru along Stafford St and then dropping down to Caroline Bay, across the seaward end of Ashbury Park and up to the Hilltop Diary. This was I thought the last hill of the trip but there is a small rise later on where Harvey Norman are.

Ella walked very happily for the first 8km. Rapid had his shoes on from about 7km - the end of the footpath in Washdyke. He was wearing one of Fiona's new shoes and one of the old ones. After about 2km he went for a swim in a large ditch. The new shoes are much bigger and once wet just kept coming off. He finished off the day wearing one of the boots Marion gave me. I think I am now down to 5 left so I hope they will last the remaining 121km back to Christchurch.

I made it to the main street of Temuka on time but it took me 10 minutes to go the last 150m as I stopped to talk to people and ask for donations and the many young girls in town gave the dogs a pat. I was about 15 minutes late leaving the branch. I made up 3 minutes by the end of the 70kph area in Temuka but that was as close as I got to making up the time. I slowly drifted further and further behind time - about 30 minutes at the end of the day.

By the time I got to Winchester at 11:50am it was really hot. I had told Ngaire and Ted to stop worrying about keeping close to me and to find a place to park in the shade. That worked OK for a while then someone wanted to mow that piece of grass. I had an ice cream in Winchester. It is really good when I get both a shop that sells ice cream and hot or warm weather in the same day. This is only third time it has happened.

When it was time for the rest break at Orari we drove off to find some trees for shade while we ate lunch. It was only 11km from Orari to Rangitata but they seemed to take for ever. Ngaire called when I was about 700m from the end to say the tea rooms were closing. She persuaded them to wait for me, which they did along with donating food and drink.

Our accommodation arrangements at Ashburton came unstuck as Val got confused about which week would be there and has her grandchildren staying. Fortunately we were able to get the last motel room at Coronation Park.

When we went to Robbies for dinner tonight I wore shoes - the first time I have worn shoes in the evening since Peter bought the jandals.