Slowly But Surely

First two apologies, sorry for all the spelling mistakes in my last blog, I was in a pub on Stewart Island and it was costing a fortune as I had to keep putting $2 in and it was a slow connection. Sorry also for not posting since then.

Crossed back over to the South Island on Friday 2/12 and booked into the Bluff camping ground, the following day i did all the local walks around Bluff, On Sunday 4/12 my walk North started in earnest. Starting point was Stirling Point the beginning of State Highway One where all Bluff to Cape Reinga ventures start.I arrived there at 7.45 expecting to have to wait awhile until someone else arrived so that I could get them to take my photo by the signpost but a minute later two car load of young people drove up with radios blaring rap music.They had obviously been at an all night party but luckily had a sober driver, a young lady who happily took my photo.The walk from Bluff to Invercargill
was uneventful and took about 8 hours for the 30 odd km all on the road,

I stayed with Nicole/Shawn and Tobi again, this time for 3 nights. I was shocked to find on weighing myself that i had lost 7kg while on Stewart Island. I knew it was tough but didn't realise it was that tough! The days were fairly hectic and included shopping for items I will need later. I also had to get my shoes replaced as the heel had starting to come away from the pair I had. This was to cause me much angst later. I also gave a presentation to Tobi's school, Waverly Park, telling them all about my walk. Shawn arranged for me to visit Richardsons Truck Museum a world class display of over 200 vintage trucks which is not generally open to the public, I also did some last minute (for me anyway) Xmas shopping and wrapped and couried them off and bundled up some stuff I'd decided I didn't need and dropped it off at the local branch of my ex employer LIC from where it will get to Christchurch and I will make arrangements later to get it to Hamilton. It was great spending time in a family situation and I was made to feel very welcome but the time went very quickly. On Wednesday 7/12 Nicole kindly dropped me off at the turnoff to Tiwai. I had tried to book a tour of the Tiwai Aluminium Smelter but they were booked out but I was given permission to walk across their land. I sleep in my tent that night not far from the beach near Waituna Lagoon.Walking on the beach was difficult due to the the small pea sized stones which dragged at my feet.

The next day I only spoke with one person, a retired farmer who kindly refilled my water bottles and gave me route directions. The walk up the side of the Mataura River was a surprise as it was lined with hundreds of shacks used by local whitebaiters.I slept by the side of the river that night. The following night I slept in a camping ground at Fortrose at the start of the Catlins. I have not been doing very large distances yet as my replacement shoes have given me blisters!

On Saturday I had walked about 10km and had turned down a side road to visit the Waipapa Lighthouse when local farmer Tim Barker stopped on his motorbike for a chat, long story short they have a holiday home on their property which they normally rent out at $130 a night, I have been staying here for the past 3 nights and doing 4 hours gardening a day in lieu of rent. Tim and his wife Kim have a large garden surrounding their home on a 500 acres sheep farm. They have 3 children including a 10 week old baby and the garden had gotten away on them. So i have been weeding and pruning  for 3 days. It's been great to spend a few nights in comfort again after 3 nights in the tent. Today I had finished my 4 hours by lunch time and then walked about 14km to Slope Point via the Waipapa Lighthouse.It was the best walk yet, lovely weather, firm sand and I was able to take my boots off and walk in bare feet for about 2/3rd of the way. Slope Point is the southern most point in the South Is. Tim collected me from their and tomorrow morning i will get dropped off their again to resume my journey north. Destination tomorrow is Curio Bay and the submerged petrified forest.

Have taken quite a few photos which I will hopefully be able to add to a future post.Speak to you again soon.