South of Milton to Waihola (13 miles/20.93 kms)

Went to sleep late last night and stayed up until almost 11:00 pm trying to finish my blog. Then I woke at 5:30 this morning and finished it. At times I think it would be easier and take less of my time if I stopped writing my blog. However, I do write it as a journal for myself so I can look at it years later to remind myself of things that happened.

I felt a little pressure this morning thinking I would get a late start and Scott would show up early, and then I’d end up staying longer. Again, not that it would be bad but I’d never finish, which is my goal.

The sky was still cloudy and it was around 55 degrees. No rain in the forecast, but that was yesterday’s forecast too.

I headed out around 8:00 and had to pull the Wheelie about a quarter of a mile across the field to get to the road. That was a bit of work pulling it through the tall grass and the furrows. I wasn’t sure where the gate was so I made a long loop across the field until I finally found it. I am sure Scott saw my trail and laughed at how out of the way I walked to get to the gate.

The road was flat to Milton and I got there by 9:00. Traffic was fairly light but got very busy by 10:00, and then stayed busy all day long. I think it was just the weekend traffic going home.

I stopped in Milton at a nice cafe and had breakfast, and took some food to go. I’ve noticed a huge difference in my energy level since I’ve been eating a big breakfast and also having a big lunch. Again, those protein energy bars are good for a short pick me up but not for a long duration.

The road to Waihola was mostly flat, with some rolling hills but not nearly like yesterday. My goal was to make the Lake Waihola Holiday Park because it is a motor camp with cabins.

It’s interesting how in tune you become with your body when physically activity goes for days. It’s much different than doing something physical for a day or two. On a short trek I probably would not have noticed my lack of energy was due to being cold. After breakfast I was sweating and the wind was blowing. I felt my energy level drop quickly, which surprised me after having had such a big protein carb meal. Then I realized my body was burning those calories to keep me warm rather than giving me the energy I needed to walk.

I stopped and put on my long pants and another wind proof shirt over my light weight wool pullover. It’s hard to think about adding another layer when you are sweating, but it made a huge difference in how well my body functioned. Once I warmed up I felt my energy level go back up and I also got back into a rhythm.

The day was mainly uneventful except one little embarrassment. I hate to bring it up, but obviously it’s part of trekking, a nature call. I am now drinking as much as I can, and that leads to many pit stops. Usually there are lots of private places but not this time. I was on a long flat area with no trees or bushes, except those on the other side of the fences. Lots of traffic as I mention, and no privacy as far as I can see. Now I am dying! Oh, wait, I see two trash cans ahead and they are about ten to fifteen feet from the road. They are the kind of cans that get picked up by the arms of a trash truck, good size. The house looks like it’s way up a long driveway, so there’s no one close by. I placed the Wheelie to the front of one of the trash cans and I turn my back to traffic and stand between the trash can and Wheelie. I am far enough away from the road that it looks like I am just working on the Wheelie, great! So, finally I start to feel relief when suddenly I heard the crunching of tires on gravel. I glance over my shoulder and there six feet away from me is a car. The passenger window is rolled down and an older lady is looking at me with a big smile. Hello, she says. We drove by and saw you standing there and wanted to make sure you were ok? Before I could answer I quickly scooted my body behind the trash can. Mind you, I was free handing at that point so everything was still hanging out! I stupidly placed my hands and elbows on top of the trash can as though I was sitting at a table. I retrospect, the woman and man probably thought I was a nut doing that rather than walk over to them during the conversation. And here again are nice Kiwis stopping to see if they could help. But please, I am ok, so leave, so I can put everything back and zip up. But no, twenty million questions about where am I going, how far have I gone, etc., etc, etc.! I couldn’t stand it any longer, so I made a dash and pretended I was tying my shoe, but I was literally ducking behind the trash can, and besides, they couldn’t really see what I was doing behind the can so faking a shoe tie wasn’t going to work. Forget it, I’ll just stand here stupidly leaning on the trash can and talk more. But I think by then they realized I was probably a nut, and they told me to be safe and they waved to me and said goodbye. Thank god!

So that was the only eventful or funny thing that happened today, as you never know what happens from day to day when you trek. Sometimes the weirder or harder things are the more I can laugh about it later. Laughter makes it all the better.

I made it to Lake Waihola Holiday Park by about 3:30 and they had a cabin for me. It is really cozy and clean, and I like it much better than a motel. And at $34 per night it’s a deal.

I have no real plans or goals for tomorrow. Brian and Shirley have sent me my knife by mail to Mosgiel, which is about 16 miles, so I may stop there.

Best wishes,

Ted

Please excuse the typos, spelling, grammar, etc., as I am typing this on my phone.