Bean update (not that Bean)…and more

The Scarlett runners are growing well on their wigwam and are so bushy now that they completely mask the wigwams of Muriel’s Magic behind them. If you look closely you can see actual beans, about half-size, hanging from the plants.

I had planned to catch up with Blips this evening after a morning gardening at K’s and then an afternoon cutting all the grass Chez Mima. However (you saw that coming didn’t you…) at 5.30 I received a text from my FFL asking for some help with his latest adventure.

He is currently walking from Banks Peninsula to Moeraki. 300km or so. With a tent and two dogs. Along the beach, which is large shingle almost all the way.

He is bonkers. Lovely, but bonkers.

Today he walked more than 30km and had just reached Wainono Lagoon, north of the Waitaki River, expecting to camp there and refill his empty water containers in either the lagoon or the creeks which feed it. 

He was horrified - and dispirited - to find all of the water was filled with toxic green algae. Completely undrinkable, even when sterilised. And poisonous for dogs. (Or rather dog in the singular: Bryn the sheepdog was picked up a couple of days ago and taken home for a rest because he was exhausted.)

So it was Mima to the rescue. Hooray! I have been secretly hoping I’d be called on during the southern half of the adventure. I’ve been itching to be a tiny part of it.

I packed water, Bean and myself into the car and 50 minutes later we found the FFL and Reilly-dog fast asleep on the grass verge at the end of the road by the lagoon. 

They were both exhausted. In fact I’ve never seen the FFL so tired and sore. He has been walking for a week and has visibly lost weight, gained muscle, and is hobbling because his toes are a mess from walking across the shifting shingle (notwithstanding his good quality hiking boots).

We had a quick conversation about what the next day’s walk looks like. He had the choice of walking the length of the lagoon without knowing if the opening at the southern end would be fordable, and then a much greater uncertainty about whether he’d be able to ford or swim across the Waitaki River mouth. OR I drive him to the southern side of the Waitaki, from where he’ll have a more or less clear run to Moeraki without any major river or lagoon crossings.

I was so relieved when he chose the latter. So we all squished into the car - Bean with her nose slightly out of joint about sharing her space with another dog - and off we went.

And of course as we drove over the Waitaki Bridge the FFL had already started some self-flagellation about missing a section of the walk. He cheered up when I suggested he could do that day in reverse on the way home, if his driver back north is willing to accommodate him.

And so I left him giving Reilly some food and setting up his camping spot next to a picnic table and a few metres from a toilet block, in the middle of a small cosy settlement of fishing cribs. He was even thinking about a rest day tomorrow.

And this is the reason I’m far behind with commenting on your journals, and responding to your comments on mine.