Geraldine to south of Mayfield (13.42 miles/21.61 kms)

Today was another roller coaster of a weather day. I was out trekking by 8:00 as I knew it was going to be another hot day. I wanted to cover some ground early before I ran out of energy because of the heat. I could tell right away that it was much cooler than the last two mornings so my hopes were high that I’d get in a rhythm and maybe even make it to Mayfield, 21 miles away.

The first mile or so was walking through the northern residential area of Geraldine and then it opened to the typical flat farmland.

Once outside of town, strangely, the winds picked and I found myself actually struggling against a headwind. I stopped on the shoulder just before the Orari River and right near a very nice one story ranch house. I had taken out my wind gauge to check the speed when I heard someone yelling at me. It was a man at the house, holding the window open, and yelling something to me I couldn’t hear. He then came out on the lawn and asked me if I would like to come in and have some tea? I have been reminding myself of my promise to start saying yes to things people offer me to shown them my gratitude. So of course I said sure.

His name was Tony Grubb, and his wife was Karen. They both welcomed me into their home and offered me my choice of drinks, but I stuck with the tea. He is 57, and I think she is too, and he is retired from the NZ Navy. They had always loved Geraldine from previous visits and decided they wanted to live in the area. They found the house about three years ago and love living here, and I see why.

It’s funny because people always ask me what I think about when I am out there all by myself? Well, one of the things I always think about, and curiously wonder, as I walk by houses is why are these people here? What do they do? What kind of life do they have? Just simple stuff, but I think of those things a lot. And here I am looking at this house and I got some answers.

Once I get in there watch out! I’ve got a million questions, but I’ll reframe from asking too many or I’ll be here all day. I guess I just love talking to people and finding out about them. Did you know New Zealand’s Navy only has a little over 2,000 sailors. Did you know the navy only has two frigates. I didn’t, but now I do!

If I had more time I’d find out about their childhood, marriage, family, etc., etc., but I had to get back to trekking. Grateful again to meet such nice people.

Tony had warned me about the Orari Bridge, about a quarter of a mile up the road, because it’s a one lane bridge. As I came up to it there was already a car stopped going in my direction and waiting for cars coming the other way. I moved past the stopped car and waited on the shoulder for the cars to pass. Once they had cleared, I motioned for the stopped car to go and I’d follow her. The driver rolled down her window and told me to go ahead and she would just follow me. Ok, here I go across this long bridge with an escort behind me. Pretty cool to walk across that long bridge and see all those cars, trucks, and bus waiting for me to finish crossing the bridge. I walked fairly fast, but I was thinking of doodling and whistling a song, very slowly crossing that bridge, just because I could!

I thanked the driver behind me and actually several of the drivers waiting for me on the other side waved a friendly hello to me.

Right past the bridge is another highway coming in from Christchurch and once past that intersection the traffic decreased a little.

The wind had increased and I clocked it steadily between 15 to 20 mph, and with gusts up to 25 and 30 mph. It was howling! Tony had called it a Southernly, probably like our Santa Ana winds back in California, as the temperature all day was around 85 degrees.

Walking was a challenge. When I was walking directly into the wind I found myself leaning forward and using my trekking poles to push myself forward. When the wind came at me from the side I found myself using the poles to keep me straight on the shoulder. Almost all the trucks passing me would move completely into the other lane if they could. When those that couldn’t passed me, I stopped because the suction would literally shake me. I could even feel the suction of the trucks going in the other lane.

I never got into a rhythm because of the wind. It constantly threw me off and I found myself starting a new pace each time it pushed me sideways or back. I was actually laughing as it was tossing me around. The last two days it was extremely hot and now this wild wind. What next?

When I came to the bigger Rangitata River Bridge I was concerned about the narrow or lack of a shoulder, but fortunately it had a fairly wide shoulder, and there was very little traffic. However, when I started to cross I could feel the wind blowing even harder as it was funneled down the river’s banks. Even though I had my chin strap on I hung onto my hat to keep it from blowing away. And, that could have ended my trek!

It was amazing to see the dust in the air as I crossed the bridge. It almost looked like fog. I was so drained from struggling with the wind I decided that I would start looking for a place to camp, and it was only 1:00. I normally find good spots to camp along river bridges, and this one had several great spots, but the dust was just too thick anywhere near the river.

I started looking as I began walking and my concern was finding a spot sheltered well enough against the high winds. About 2:00 I came upon a couple of men in a field and I approached them and asked if they were the owners, and if I could camp on their farm? He said he wasn’t the owner but I could camp anywhere I wanted. Unfortunately there were no trees blocking the wind, so he suggested that I go further up and ask his neighbor, which I did.

His name is Wyatt and he has a small ranch and raises horses. I didn’t speak with him long, but he offered to drive me to Mayfield, which of course I kindly declined. I found a nice sheltered spot between the trees and bushes that has blocked the wind. It is hard to believe but as I am writing this blog it is starting to rain hard now! The forecast is for overnight rain! I don’t believe this roller coaster weather I am experiencing! It makes me laugh again.

I am glade I stopped early and I have to remind myself it doesn’t matter how far or how long I go each day, as I need to take it one day at a time. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow’s weather will bring? Snow?

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.