Rapaki

The intention was to bus to the bottom of the Rapaki Track and walk up to the Summit Road then along this to the memorial at the top of the Bridle Path and down into Lyttelton for a beer and a pie :) (A kiwi thing).

 However, we came across a barrier completely blocking the road with a massive warning sign saying to passing.Took nearly 1 hr 20 of steady walking to reach the Summit Road which runs around Banks Peninsula.  The plan was to walk along this road until we reached The Bridle Path that would lead us down to Lyttelton however there was a great blasted barricade across the road with signs saying $5000 fine if we went past.  Red flag to a bull and so we wiggled down the bank, under the razor wire and up the other side feeling quite adventurous and wicked!  Which was completely irresponsible and stupid because along the way were massive boulders that had been dislodged by the quakes and landed on the road from the huge rocky formation high above.  If a quake occurred while we were walking there it'd be a bit like being in a skittles arcade with us leaping and dodging falling boulders some the size of a car so yes, quite dumb but we were not to be deterred the Bridle Path calling us on.

Around a bend we went steadily tramping and at the 1 hr 53 mark we heard yelling from above.  Two workman in harness safety gear etc on the slops above were saying we had to stop. We could see the little monument to the Bridle Path about 100 meters along the road that would lead down to Lyttelton where we planned to have a long cold beer and a pie in a cozy little cafe called the Port Hole but this was not to be.

"They're dynamiting down there.  You're not supposed to be here."  They yelled at us and then a van pulled up and the chap in it was not a happy camper.  

"You know where you come from.  Now turn round and go back." He told us without the trace of civility.  For a fleeting moment I thought about ignoring him and just pushing on our destination was so close but in the end common sensed prevailed and back we went.  Poor Clara!  Comes for a nice little stroll with her dementing father and ends up walking up hill and down dale for 3 hrs 6mins!  That's how long it took. No complaints from her however and as we staggered back round the barricade and down the Rapaki our prime thought was something to eat and something to drink.  We made it to St Martins supermarket, went in and bought a pie and in Clara's case a chicken sandwich along with an enormous chocolate and cream bun, sat down outside in the coffee place they have there and enjoyed ( in my case anyway) the best mince pie I've ever had .

Behind Christchurch city up in the hills climbing a grunty old stone quarry today once used for buildings, paths and walls.  Now abandoned but makes for great walking with a track right around and over the top of the jagged cliff.

Took 40 mins and a glorious day in early autumn with the sun bright and the sky blue. Luvely.

Walking

Time to get started.  Time and tide for no man abide, neither does heaven or hell and I haven't written here ever hardly so....................

My current delight is walking.  Everyday I go out and walk somewhere, anywhere.  Initially I begun after reading about the Santiago de camino Compostela and thought it sounds like me.  I'd like to do that next year when I've sold up and settled up my life and time to this point, well in that point actually because it'll be 2014.  Nothing like planning ahead, especially when it entails walking 500 miles across Spain.  So, I've been reading and wondering and ascertaining my actual physical ability to do so and when I first went out for a walk it lasted for 26 mins and I was an aching wreck.  

I've been a runner for most of my life especially in my mid years 35 to 55 but now at 69 the longest run (which is now a jog, not even that actually but a shuffle) has been for about 24 mins but that caused irritation and soreness in my left hip and knee so it didn't last and I became quite unfit preferring to sit here, chat on FB and play WOW.  Yes, believe it or not I've played WOW since I was 65 and it certainly kept my mind alert.  It filled a need somehow but more of that later perhaps.

For now, it's walking.  Over the past 4 weeks I've built up my stamina and muscle and the other day walked around the bays and beaches and hills and cliffs above Sumner and by the time I got back to my car 2hrs 16 mins had gone by.  What a pleasure and what a great feeling of being out there and active and no aches at night any more.  My knees and hip have improved out of sight and I think I've stumbled (actually, walked) into an elexia of youth :)