tramping new zealand

In the morning, my leg felt better, and after an abortive crossing and re-crossing Nardoo Stream, I made it to the base of the four-wheel-drive track.

It was slow going and I worked out how to avoid shooting pains. It’s lovely forest by the way.

Halfway up the hill, I added to the injury to my leg—a third ping.

Man, this was now awkward.

But it wasn’t far to a low saddle, and then I was on a proper farm track with the smoothest farm road in the world down in the valley.

I shuffled on. By the time I reached the bottom, three hours had gone by. Normally, it would have taken less than an hour.

Once on the road, tiredness overcame me, and I shuffled over the smooth surface with my eyes closed for 100 m at a time. I experienced another two hours of occasional pain with nowhere to sit and rest due to the electric fences close to the farm track on both sides.

Getting my boots off was a relief, although it did take almost an hour, but getting close to 3 pm and suddenly overcome with fatigue, I decided to stay in Murchison rather than drive back to Nelson.

Man, I was as tired as I’ve ever been.

I’d get my leg looked at on Monday.