Day 54 near Clinton to Balclutha

Walked by Mike and Rapid 43km 59413 steps. Walked by Ella about 11km.

An awfully early start today. Alarm set for 5am. Packed up (mostly - I'm still wondering what I left behind in Gore) and off to pick up Ngaire and Ted at 6am. The service station gave me some advise on the fastest way to Jeff Rd and we got there early. Once the dog coats etc where on I was walking at 6:45am - still a little dark but the hi viz coats meant the tanker drivrs saw us and that was all on the road at that time of day.

Rapid only manged to kick a shoe off once all day. He was wearing the same pair of shoes that Lynley made as yesterday. By the end of the day they were worn out and went in the rubbish. The verges today were about half grass and half rough stuff.

I made good progress to Clinton and got there 25 minutes early. Clinton has the motto "a three horse town" but there are 5 plastic horses now in the middle of town. Ella got her second walk of the day through Clinton.

Clinton to Waiwera South was fairly easy walking. Ted provided an escort across the Waiwera River bridge and then it was second break. After that the hills started. Even though Balclutha is lower than Clinton it really seemed to me that there was more uphill than down between the two towns.

I only got 2 donations on the open road today - one was from an Irish couple on their way to the Ireland/Italy match at Dunedin. The other came from the barman at Clinton Hotel who passed me on his way from home in Balclutha and gave another donation - he also gave one to Ngaire on Friday.

I had a wee communication problem with Ngaire and Ted. When I got to Wright Rd - 11 km from the finish they had lunch ready. But I had asked for it 2km further on so I was less than 10km from the finish.

Ngaire and Ted went into Peggydale and found some more pressed wool insoles. They also got some donations.

Meanwhile I carried on to the Rosebank pub. I was about 10 minutes early arriving there. Just as I arrived Tim and his mate, whose name I have forgotten arrived and gave me there small amount of cash and offered some sweets as well. When I got into the Rosetown pub I didn't have my wallet in my pack. Fortunately Ngaire and Ted arrived so I got some money off Ngaire and had a beer while collecting. I left Rapid outside at the pub door. There was one very drunk guy in the bar who was making a big song and dance over matching the barmaids donation. While I was collecting off other people he brought Rapid into the bar. Ted saw what was happening and came into the bar. I quickly finished my beer and went to leave. The drunk guy grabbed Ted and I by the sleeve and insisted we stay. Another guy in the bar intervened. I'm wondering why he was still in the bar as he was obviously very intoxicated and being a nuisance. On the plus side I got good donations.

By now I was about 15 minutes late but it was worth the delay. A couple more small donations were made as we walked into town.

Ted had two close calls with traffic today. The first came when I asked for some more cards. Ted didn't here the milk tanker coming as he opened the door of the van and climbed out. Fortunately the tanker driver was alert and dodged around Ted. I didn't see the second scare that came while Ted was on the Paiwata Stream bridge at Kaihiku. One car overtook another on the bridge and Ted had to climb over the railing.

We are staying tonight with Sarah Brock, Susan Aide's sister at Stirling. I had time for a nap before a dinner of butter chicken with very nice sweet and sour yams. The drama is the pump is playing up and the water is going off. Tony and Cameron are in Dunedin watching the rugby. I don't think I am getting a shower tonight so you may want to stay up wind of me tomorrow. I missed seeing Cameron but I gather he is quite over the top on his dress to support Ireland.