Saint Andrews/Otaio River to Timaru (16.97 miles/27.32 kms)

Today was a good day, but uneventful. However, last night had a kind of interesting ending just before turning in for the night.

Just before dark I had gone down to the river and got some water for cleaning and was walking up the bank when I heard a man say, “I hope your not going to drink that water?” I turned and saw a man coming up the bank behind me carrying what looked like some type of electrical motor and hose sticking out of it. “No, I was just getting it to clean up I replied.”

I asked them him what he was doing, and he told me he was just down by the river watering his marijuana plants. Interesting! I thought I was here all by myself and here I am right in the middle of a marijuana crop. Surprisingly, he gave me details on how told he uses a 12 volt battery to run the motor that pumps the water to his plants. Where are they?, I dumbly asked him, just in conversation. I am not going to tell you so you can take plants, he said nicely. Der!

Then he went on with a little history about the river and how it is generally dry, and now it’s flowing so he can pump the water to his plants. I asked him if it’s a serious crime that could get him into a lot of trouble? It depends on who catches you. A woman got caught with 40 plants and only got her hand slapped. It’s not that big of a deal he said. It’s not a big deal in many states back home, including California of course, but here?

We talked for a bit longer, and he said he had seen me down towards Invercargill. So, apparently he knew I was just traveling along and harmless. I just have to reiterate that the people I’ve meant trekking surely are not people you’d meet driving in a car, and this guy is one of them. Just another interesting trekking experience!

I started out this morning a little after 8:00 and the temperature was fairly warm, near sixty, making it easier for me to get out of my sleeping bag. Traffic was surprisingly very light this morning, and almost shocking after yesterday’s heavy traffic. But within a few hours traffic was very heavy again. Fortunately most of it was heading north, in my direction, but I walk on the right so it didn’t affect me.

A man at a store today told me the heavy traffic was still due to the Eagles concert in Dunedin because it was on both Friday and Saturday nights. He said some people came from far away and stayed in Timaru the night before. I find it interesting that a concert could affect traffic on a main highway because if it was back home you would hardly notice a difference in traffic.

Having a early stop and time to relax yesterday really made a noticeable difference in my energy level. That, along with the light traffic, got me into a good rhythm that I kept all day long.

I got to Timaru by about 3:00 and decided I would find a motel or motorcamp and take a Zero Day. I did not realize that it’s been eight straight days of trekking without a break. I really noticed the difference in my energy level today because of my short day yesterday, which is telling me that I really need to rest and regenerate. It make sense too in that I would probably trek further overall with a day’s rest than without stopping.

Since it is Sunday many of the motels had their vacant signs out. I stopped at a few and they were very reasonable, but I’ve come to like the little cozy cabins and trailers, so I decided to stay at the Timaru Top 10 Holiday Park, the same name motorcamp I stayed at in Oamaru.

Everything is within close walking distance (funny saying that from someone who walks miles each day), so I will go to the store and stock up on food supplies since I will be moving off the main highway north of Timaru.

Hopefully part of tomorrow will be laying around and relaxing. Maybe reading my book or watching a movie on Netflix?

Best wishes to all,

Ted

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

I’m here!