Rangiora to Amberley (18.02 miles/29.01 kms)

The last two nights I was so tired I could not think about plans for the next day, and last night was even more so. I wanted to take a zero day but I knew it might rain the following day, and I’d rather take a zero day on a rainy day and therefore everything was up in the air.

I woke up 6:15 and looked outside, and it was cloudy and it felt cool. Yeah! My mind was made up, I’ll go today and try and get to Amberley, where there is a caravan park with cabins. I figured if I take a zero day while it’s raining it might as well be under a roof. I called the Amberley Delhaven Motel (caravan park) and reserved a cabin.

I headed out about 8:00 and walked through the nice downtown area of Rangiora. It’s bigger than most of the towns I’ve been through the last few weeks and seemed more active in the morning.

I enjoyed walking through town as I could feel my gait already being more joyous and different with the cool weather. I could almost feel myself wanting to whistle, pick a flower, and stick it in my hat. Not really, but not having the dread of the heat made me more observant of all the little things I hadn’t really paid attention to.

Interesting, now I noticed the young boy with a backpack scootering off to school. A woman walking very fast, maybe late to an appointment. A young woman jogging down the road. A few bike riders off to work as they were dressed up. And as I got to downtown I could see everyone getting ready to open their businesses. It really did feel small town, no different than probably anywhere in the world, and surely similar to small towns back home in the States.

I pasted several cafes looking for the right one, and then I saw the Coffee Culture Rangiora. I saw a line inside at the counter and it looked like it was a buzz with businesses, yet it had a good feel about it. Apparently it is a franchise popular in the South Island, and with only two in the North. It had a nice variety of baked goods and sandwiches, and coffees of course. I hate to say it, but it could definitely give Starbucks a run for its money.

I ordered a multigrain bagel with cream cheese to make myself think I am still trying to eat well, and as a non-coffee drinker, a white chocolate mocha late’, the healthy kind. Whatever that is?

I guess I am just a people watcher, but I enjoy watching people in different cultures and could sit here all day and watch how people act. I do have to say that I did hear a lot of pardon me, excuse me, sorry, and that type of thing more than I would hear at home. Don’t get me wrong, because I am sure people back home are just as nice, it’s just that we don’t show it as much. Yet most foreigners say we Americans are friendly.

I started back up around 8:30, walking on the main road out of town, where it would eventually connect with the main Highway 1. I was not looking forward to being back on Highway 1 after walking the Scenic Highway 72. Google Map showed me an alternate route out of town and I decided to try it. It was a great choice as it was a small quiet backcountry road along a golf course, farms, and homes on large acreage.

The temperature was about 62 degrees, and it never got above 68 degrees (20c) all day long. It felt like heaven walking on a quiet country road, in cool weather, compared to the last two days.

Yes, like heaven, but I knew it was going to end once I had to merge back on Highway 1, which it did! That was a shock to my system and it was the reason why I ultimately decided to add 30-40 miles, and two to three days, to my trek by taking the back roads.

The road was busy and the only saving grace was that the shoulders are fairly wide, but not in all places. It seems that anywhere there are passing lanes, four lanes wide, there are minimal shoulders. I also encountered my first long bridge across the Ashely River within the first few miles. Traffic was heavy, busier than any previous places, and I really was not sure how I’d cross it? I waited until traffic was no longer visible in the other direction and just started across. I was, of course, waving my warning flag like a madman. A few cars came, slowed down, moved over into the other lane, and passed me. But here comes that big truck that worries me! Sure enough, there was traffic going the other direction so he couldn’t move over. I was just hoping he wouldn’t try and pass me because there was just not enough room! Thankfully he came to a stop and turned on his flashers. I could see the cars stack up behind him and I was thankful for that. Traffic in the other direction passed by and the truck moved over into the other lane and passed me. After that there was a line of cars that did the same thing, so it was actually good that it was a truck that came and then stopped for me.

After the Ashley Bridge I encountered two more smaller bridges that I was able to cross without too much trouble, but every one was a little unnerving.

I had a good rhythm most of the day because the great weather and fairly level road most of the way.

Just outside of Amberley, a woman named Gail Morgan, and her son, stopped to talk to me. She had asked if I was walking the length of NZ, and the west coast, as she had read on some Facebook page that a trekker walking the South Island had not been heard of for a few days, and people were concerned. I am obviously walking the length of NZ, but not on the west coast. But it would not surprise me if I was the one they may have been concerned about because I have had many people here ask for my blog site, and I have been several days behind with my posts. And, if I am the person that they are concerned about, it’s nice to know people care.

Gail offered to drive me to town as she was concerned because there had been two accidents, one a fatality, on the road just before town. I thanked her and told her I am very cautious and never let my guard down when trekking. She gave me her business card and told me to stop by at her business on the other side of town.

I made it to Amberley at 3:30, and I would have made it earlier but I saw a cafe, and a sign for milk shakes, and had to stop and have one to celebrate a good day.

I checked into the Amberley Delhaven Motel and got a cabin, $63 NZ ($43 US), and it’s a nice place. I did my usual duties and chores, taking a long hot shower and then washing my clothes.

I walked across the street to a great shopping center that has a Thai, Indian, and country style restaurants. There is also a big super market where I bought some fruits, veggies, and drinks. I couldn’t make up my mind about food, and finally decided on Thai, it it was good. I’ll have Indian tomorrow.

Overall today was a greet day. Walking the longer distances that I am walking currently is generally much easier now, but the weather is really what dictates how far I walk each day. Twenty or more miles in cool weather is much easier than ten miles in hot weather.

Tonight and tomorrow it is suppose to rain, and this being a good place to stay, with a nice cabin and the shopping center across the street, will probably be a good place to have a zero day.

Off to sleep and I will see what tomorrow brings.

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.