Day 57 South Dunedin to Waikouaiti

Distance walked by Mike and Rapid 42.8km 56518 steps. Distance walked by Ella about 17km.

Total distance walked 1998.4km Funds raised $17,

The day started late and finished late. By the time we got back to Dunedin all I wanted to do was sleep so this blog is being written the next day.

With an 8am start I was able to set the alarm for 6:30am - a real luxury. However calls of nature meant I was up before then. Anne cooked scrambled eggs for breakfast. Somehow we didn't manage to get away at 7:20am but the traffic was light and I was still able to get to South Dunedin by 7:55, even after having to stop and check the map after I realised I couldn't remember the way from Wharf St.

None of the South Dunedin staff were able to walk with me but Ngaire walked from South Dunedin right through to Otago University with me. The first 15 minutes of the walk I stopped and talked to every pedestrian with minimal response. We were then tight on time to get to the Octagon so I ceased asking for donations. It would have been better to save the time for a couple of coffee bars.

The Octagon branch wasn't open when we arrived so I was able to chat with staff. Then it was next door to the ANZ to meet their staff. Ivan produced a shirt for me and also directions for getting to his bach (crib) at Glenavy. I didn't pack many cotton shirts and now the weather is warmer I had run out of shirts. I bought one yesterday and with the ANZ World Cup shirt that will see me through.

I was a naughty boy and forgot to write the names of the bank staff who walked with parts of the way between the Octagon and Otago University. However thanks very much for doing that.

The doors had just opened when we reached Dunedin branch. Penelope from Cancer Society came over to say hello and invited us to lunch of Friday.

Otago University branch had been given the job of producing morning tea and they did a very good job. Really nice sausage rolls and savouries. TV9 turned up to do an interview before I could try the shortbread. After the TV interview I was about 15 minutes late leaving. The camera had been set up down the road to record me and the dogs in action. I felt rather silly having to ask one person to not walk near me so they wouldn't be in shot for the camera.

I walked fairly slowly the first few kilometres through town and it took a real effort to move my body from stroll mode to fast walk - something I didn't actually manage until after Waitati where there were kilometre markers along SH1 and I could push myself until I got back to a reasonable speed.

The walk up North East Valley went past Baldwin St, the steepest street in New Zealand. There were several tourists at the corner who had walked up it - something I wasn't about to do.

When I got to Forrester Park, where Ella was supposed to go back in the van she made it plain she wanted to walk more. Rapid didn't wear his shoes before this as it was mostly on smooth footpaths. As I was putting his shoes on a 12m tandem axle truck came up Norwood St. Beyond Forrester Park Norwood St is very narrow and steep with some tight corners his truck wasn't going to get around. After looking at the first corner he stopped the truck and backed down. The truck and driver were from Auckland and the GPS had given him a route up Mt Cargill and down Upper Junction Rd as the shortest way to Sawyers Bay. It may have been the shortest but for a truck it certainly isn't the quickest. He managed to turn the truck and went back to North St. I'm wondering how he got on with Upper Junction Rd which has a sign no through heavy vehicles.

Somewhere climbing up the steep part of Norwood St I dropped my notes which meant Ted had to drive down then up again.

The second break (or was it the fifth, as there were multiple stops through town) was taken after the steep climb but still about 1.5km from the top of the hill. It was 12:30 and I had only walked 12km. Ella was happy to ride in the van while I descended to Waitati. The 9km down hill still managed to take me an hour. I rang Louise Marsh as I was leaving Waitati. She had just finished work so she came down and walked with me the Evansdale.

Next came the Kilmog Hill. It is 2km of steep climb followed by a 3km along the top then 3km down hill. The first kilometre up the hill took me 14 minutes- way below target speed, the next was 12 minutes. From there I managed 11 minutes per kilometre for the rest of the day except for 1k on the descent I did in 10 minutes.

There is a slow vehicle lane on the steep part of the hill for trucks coming down. The shoulder is very narrow - OK for a slow moving truck but rather uncomfortable when an SUV came down like the bats out of hell.

The third break was taken just before the descent of Kilmog Hill. I'm wondering why it is called Kilmog when most of the climb is actually over Porteous Hill. Maybe someone from Otago can explain.

As the afternoon progressed the number of people stopping to give donations increased. This is a recurring pattern. I suspect people see me for the second or more time later in the day and the amount of walking I'm doing registers with them.

Ngaire and Ted went ahead after crossing the the Waikouaiti River and order the fish and chips - just as well they did as the shop closed just as I arrived.

On returning to Anne's place at Sawyers Bay Ted had to work out how to remove the new heel patches that Joanna had sent. They look flimsy but they were still intact after a days walking. They are slightly thinner than the previous ones so there is less pressure on the toes. The blister on my left heel had been discharging which left a nasty stain but it mostly came out.

This morning I got up at 6am to let the dogs out then went back to bed. I slept till a bit after 8am and stayed in bed till 9am. Ella has taken over Tya's bed in front of the heater. Rapid doesn't really want to do anything today. I don't blame him I feel the same way.