South of Mayfield to Mayfield (8.96 miles/14.42 kms)

My shortest day yet, in time and distance, and weather had a lot to do with it, but overall it ended as a very pleasant day.

While writing my blog last night it started to rain, and then it started to pour, and it poured most of the night. I usually love to hear the sound of rain on the tent but the wind blew in different directions, and around the trees and bushes, and buffeted the tent. I wasn’t worried about the tent or poles holding up but I was concerned that the tent stakes would pull out. I didn’t drive the stakes in all the way into the ground and I hadn’t staked out the tent guy lines. It was pouring so hard I just didn’t want to go out and drive them in deeper.

I was constantly waking up as the rain would suddenly come down in buckets and when the tent shook with a strong gust of wind. Needless to say I had very little sleep last night.

I also made the mistake of drinking a drink with caffeine in it and that surely didn’t help. Drinking water all the time just doesn’t satisfy my thirst carving, especially when it’s warm, and I try to be selective on what I drink but at those little country stores there’s general a limited selection, and usually the junkiest ones.

When I woke at 6:00 it was still raining and I stayed in the tent until until it finally stopped after 9:00. The temperature was also down to the low fifties and it was overcast. Throughout the day the temperature never got above 58 degrees. Two days ago it hit 95 degrees. What a wild weather roller coaster ride it has been in just a little over the three weeks I’ve been trekking.

Packing up after a rain makes things more difficult because even though I wipe down the tent before packing it away, it still tends to be damp, especially between the floor and tent foot print. The foot print is an extra liner to protect the bottom and I attached it with plastic zip ties so I don’t have to lay it out every time. Things inside also tend to get damp just from the humidity, including my down sleep bag. The down is hydrophobic, so the down doesn’t absorb moister but it still feels damp on the outside.

I would prefer to start early and stop early, rather than starting late and stopping late. I didn’t have a goal for today but starting late limited my options.

After packing up I went to thank Luke for letting me stay there, and of course there was the offer to have coffee or tea, and a shower. I looked at my watch and it was already 10:30. The shower was too late, and within ten minutes of walking I’d be sweaty anyway. Ok, one quick cup of tea. You know how that goes, an hour later!

Luke is 37, divorced, and has two kids. He raises various type horses, from races horses to cutting horses, and several other breeds. He and a friend recently rode their horses and pack horses over a newly dedicate trail from the east coast over high mountain passes to the west coast. So when he asked me why I was trekking the length of New Zealand he understood my answer when I said, “because I can.”

By the time I left I had no idea where I would end up. I had called the Panthers Rock Bar and Cafe and asked the owner if they had any accommodations. She said no, but I could pitch a tent next door at the park. It was about ten miles and that was my goal.

The road was fairly quiet but Luke had told me it would get busier as it was Friday. Traffic was still so light that most cars were able to move into the other lane as they passed me. Surprisingly almost all the cars did that. It was interesting that almost half of the cars were carrying bicycles. Either they were going to some bicycle event or maybe this is the way to a favorite spot to ride? I find it interesting too, but it makes sense, that people that ride bikes are more safety conscious about other people on the road.

Right after I started I ran into a couple from France that are riding both the South and North Island. Joselyn and Jacque are 140 years old between them. They didn’t tell me their ages, but he said he was younger. Talk about being inspired! I was! They had just started three days ago from Christchurch. They have been biking for one year, starting by biking across Canada from Quebec to Vancouver. Then they biked across Japan, and then across Thailand. And now they are here to do a short loop of the South Island, and a small section of the North Island. I found it funny that they said they were impressed by what I was doing, and I am so impressed and inspired by what they are doing. There were a few hugs, hand shaking, and photos. We have something in common, going after our dreams.

After that the ten miles didn’t seem like much and I got to Mayfield about 3:00. I went to the Panthers Rock Bar and Cafe and was walking around the side looking for an entrance. It looked like a very nice place with beautifully landscaping, and the. I noticed a woman trimming a tree. She saw me and recognized me as the person that had called by my Wheelie.

She showed me the way to the park, which was directly next door and to the rear of her property. It was a huge park with horse riding areas, soccer field, pool, and other facilities. She told me that tomorrow was the annual Show Day in Mayfield, which is the farming communities fair held at the park. I didn’t really want to camp there, but she said it would be fine because lots of people will be there. Seeing I was a bit apprehensive about camping there she took me to the back of the restaurant and told me to camp anywhere I wanted, so I picked this spot.

I pitched my tent and walked to the store and bought my drinks for tomorrow (orange juice and carbonated water, no junk), and then had dinner at the Panther Rock Bar and Cafe. The food was excellent. Everything is home made, and mostly locally grown, and nothing comes from packages. It was a nice way to end my short day that had me a little concerned because I was late starting and had no goal. I have to remind myself again, just one day at a time.

Oh yes, no I am not going to stay. Again, if I stopped at every place I liked I’d never even reach the top of the South Island by the time I have to go home!

I want to thank you all again for your comments! I appreciate them all.

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.