Ten Percent

I have now reached Dunedin so am about 10 % of the way on my journey. Only 90% to go!

After leaving Akatore I walked 7km, along beaches and and paddocks to Taieri Mouth where I stayed at the Motor Camp, still no shop and an enquiry regarding purchasing fresh vegetables from a permanent resident of the camp once again resulted in food being donated to me and a refusal of payment. The Motor Camp is run by Dianna (who is in her late 70's at a guess) bright eyed and with a good sense of humour. When she advised me that there were no other guests staying that night and that there would just be the 2 of us I said I hoped we didn't fight. Well she said I should warn you that I wont give you any quarter! (in other words she wouldn't take it easy on me). Had my first shower for 3 days. Went for a stroll on the beach in the afternoon and found a good quality pocket knife. (Have now found 3 weapons of mass destruction, pocket knife, axe and a fry pan!!)

Was up early the next day and on the road by 7.30am, crossed over the Taieri Mouth bridge then dropped down onto the beach, where I stayed, except for one small section, for the next 18km to Brighton. Several times I had to cross small rocky headlands but nothing too steep or daunting apart from one place where I tried 3 different places to get off the beach but they were all too steep, finally found my way to the top only to be confronted by blackberries and scrub. When I finally stumbled out onto the road covered in scratches I discovered that Mitch (a soft toy tiger who travels on the back of my pack, "Mitch the Hitch") was missing so had to go back and rescue him. Met Hazel and Iwi collecting seaweed on the beach and was invited into their home for morning tea. Saw a seagull flying with a large white supermarket bag caught on its leg, reminded me of the small planes that fly trailing advertising banners. The Brighton Motor camp is the cleanest/tidiest I've seen and has lots of permanent residents living in caravans. I stayed there 2 nights, nearly losing my tent on the second night when a large gust of wind ripped a tent peg out, managed to secure it but not before some rain entered the tent. On the 2nd day John, one of the resident took me into Dunedin so that that I could go shopping and I caught the bus "home". John also invited me in for tea and cake and then took my large pack onto my next campsite in Dunedin.

The walk into Dunedin was along beaches and roads with nothing much of interest, had to take an alternative path at one stage as there was a sea lion asleep on the main pathway. Stayed one night at the Dunedin Motor camp which is huge and well run but also the most expensive to date.

I am now staying in Portabello for a couple of nights with the people who we rented accommodation from over Xmas. Bill and Orma brought my pack here yesterday and I had a very pleasant but tiring day walking on a mixture of tracks, beaches, sand dunes, 4WD tracks and roads. There are some spectacular view from the Highcliff  Track which mostly transverses farmland across some very steep country. I lost the track at one stage and spent half an hour until I found it again. Later in the day I took a side track to Lovers Leap (resisted the urge to leap) and The Chasm, spectacular vertical rock cliffs which are well worth a visit.

Having an easy day today, did 2 hours walking this morning to complete a small section I didn't finish yesterday then tomorrow its back into Dunedin. I've walked about 300km since leaving Bluff and have an estimated 2700 to go. My knee seems to be bearing up but does cause some discomfort at night. Next week I return to the Catlins to look after the Hostel/Motor Camp for 10 days and will then return to Hamilton for a two week break before resuming the walk in early March.