tramping new zealand

With the reasonable progress of my knee, I could make a plan.

The best thing was that my leg was something generally fixable, rather than needing a cast or surgery, or total rest.

Back for my 15th visit to the island. This would be the first that wasn’t based on a mad scramble around the mud pits of Rakiura. For once, I would have an enforced slowdown.

Injury changed the options for my southern break.

Narrowed them?

Perhaps, but in reality, it was simply a transition to less intense activity. Dealing with my knee would take weeks at best.

I’ve learnt my body can’t go from 1st gear to 4th in one hit. The lesson was to strengthen my body before setting out, not on-the-job training.

I had not aggravated any injury during my 75-day summer expedition, because I started with modest ambitions. I would hold effort at a plateau for a while before modestly increasing energy expenditure.

By the time I hit my most demanding trail, the 11-day Johnson River/Wangapeka trip, my body was in fine working condition.

Now I’m just hobbling around.

Easy enough to get onto the ferry, for the calmest crossing in memory.

It had been a week since I smashed my knee, but another few days of just walking on flat asphalt would help with recovery.

So, I was at the South Sea Hotel for a few days.

I could cope with that.