Day 69 Hornby to Christchurch - the finish

Walked by Ella, Rapid & Mike 10km

Total distance walked 2325km funds raised $21,619.88
I've finished
Today got off to a bad start with me being very late getting organised and as a result we were late getting to Hornby for breakfast. Very good bacon & eggs - the dogs got their share of the bacon too.

A good size group of staff in ANZ shirts walking with me today all the way from Hornby to the museum. After breakfast the first stop was at Upper Riccarton - oranges, and orange juice. That leg went well - started and finished 5 minute late.

Then it was 2km down Riccarton Rd to Riccarton Branch. Ngaire walked that part as well. I stopped at MacDonalds at rattled the can. I was doing Ok until one woman started complaining in a very load voice about us collecting inside. I got no more donations from the people I approached after that.

Riccarton branch put on morning tea including a chocolate cake. It was iced with a message about not having very far to go now. I can't remember the words and I don't have a photo as I left my camera at Upper Riccarton branch.

Rapid had been limping all morning favouring his right front leg. Once we got to Hagley Park he seemed to forget about that he and Ella both had to jump in the water a couple of times and run around very vigourously. Naomi from CCATS who works at Riccarton had her Australian Shepherd puppy along. Rapid barked at it like he has all the grown up dogs but Ella was Ok with it and after a while Rapid stopped barking.

At the museum a large cheque was handed over to Cancer Society. It was purely symbolic as the money has not been passed across yet. I will give them the funds raised so far tomorrow or Wednesday. It had to be done 3 times. My camera turned up just after the first presentation and shortly after that The Press turned up. I am absolutely delighted that the amount raised is more than the number - $20,000 I guessed to go on the cheque.

When it was time to leave the museum Rapid was extremely reluctnat to walk and I finished up carrying him to the van. The afternoon was spent unloading and cleaning out the van, retrieving my car from the McKees place and returning the van to Abell rentals. I was hoping to have a cup of tea before taking Ngaire and Ted to the vet and Rapid to the vet but Rapid spilt it as I tried to get him into the car.

The good news is the vet found nothing wrong with Rapid. He is getting anti-inflamatries and antibiotics. I'm not at all sure about the antibiotics. I can't see any evidence for an infection and his temperature is normal. He has increased in weight to 19.2kg. He will have to go on a diet and loose the 2.5kg he has gained cruising the gutter. I have fingers crossed that his condition will improve enough to allow him to compete at the NDTA.