Seddon/Awatere River to Blenheim (16.29 miles/26.23 kms)

When I woke up this morning I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be an easy day as the tent was being buffeted by the wind and it was in a well sheltered spot. The good thing was that the tent was dry for once, both inside and outside.

As I started out a little after 8:00 the wind was already blowing directly in my direction, directly at me. As I started up the climb I could feel the wind push me so much that I had to use the trekking poles for a little extra push.

It was an uphill climb from the start and it continued for the next six miles or so. Between the climb and the strong winds I was struggling. The winds were a consistent 10-15 mph, and with gusts up to 20-25 mph. I felt like those mythological weather gods just didn’t want to see me end my last few days on the South Island to easily. Ok, I admit, I was cursing the wind, and maybe they didn’t like that.

The only good thing with the wind was that it dried my sweat fairly fast, and I was sweating. The temperature was in the low seventies but that wasn’t an issue.

I try not to look at the Google map before or as I am trekking because the elevation it shows for walking doesn’t seem accurate all the time, and besides, it’s better that I don’t know what’s coming or it can physic me out thinking about a steep climb.

That last climb to the top was a challenge, especially with the wind still coming at me directly. When I made the top, I could see the ocean way below in the distance and I was surprised how high it was.

I was glad to be at the top and finally going downhill. But, that feeling of jubilation was short lived. The owner of one of the motor camps had warned me about the very steep, without any shoulder, section of road near Seddon, where a female bicyclist had been killed. She had said it was a section that I should think about skipping it was so dangerous. Well, I had mistaken the uphill grade before Seddon as that section of road. When I started the downhill I suddenly found myself on that section of narrow, windy, road without any shoulder that she must certainly had meant. I had gone too far, when I realized it, to turn around or I may have. Plus there was absolutely no place for a car to stop if I wanted to catch a ride.

I really felt unnerved by the road as it was basically a one to two foot rounded cement gutter between the edge of the road and the sheer rock wall to the side. I moved the Wheelie so that one wheel was at least on the edge of the gutter to keep it from tipping over when ever a vehicle came by. On the blind curves, I stopped as best as I could and listened for any approaching vehicles. And when I did go forward, I went slow instead of fast, always thinking of where to move the Wheelie. On some curves I was able to see back uphill enough for any vehicles coming down, and I’d move over to the other shoulder if there was room. In some places I could see far enough down the road that it allowed me to scoot around blind curves knowing nothing was coming. It took me a long time coming down, and when I finally saw the straight stretches I was overjoyed.

If I had know it was this bad I would not have done it! It was the most scared I have been on this trek. Having the vehicles going slower uphill helped a little, but there would absolutely be no way I would do it again, especially going uphill! Now I know why the bicyclist was killed as she was going uphill. It still amazes me that this is a major highway.

Once I got to the bottom it was mostly level all the way to Blenheim. However, the wind never stopped and on one section of road, near an embankment, my wind gauge registered 30 mph. Even on the flat area I felt like I was going uphill. It wasn’t until I reached the outskirts of Blenheim that the wind seemed to die down, possible due to the houses and landscaping.

Once I got to the main section of town I was surprised to see bumper to bumper traffic going through town. There are no traffic signals here, but the three roundabouts seemed to be the bottlenecks. And they are putting them in all over California too! Ouch!

Going sixteen miles today seemed like going well over twenty. Thankfully I had already reserved a cabin at the Blenheim Top 10 Holiday Parks again. I got here about 3:30, which surprised me considering the conditions today. I got here early enough I got my long hot shower and washed my clothes. I am close to several restaurants and stores, and got myself something for dinner and brought it back here so I could just relax.

I felt a little spent again today and was thinking of taking a zero day here? I am not sure about going another 16-18 miles in the winds again tomorrow, plus a steep climb at the very end before coming in to Picton. That will be it, the 16-18 miles will be the end of my trek of the South Island. Wow!

My issue about staying here tomorrow is that there is a 100% chance of rain the next day. I don’t mind trekking in the rain, but not with the amount of traffic I encountered today. I’ll have to think about it in the morning. For now I’ll lay in bed and read my book.

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.