Kokonga to Ranfurly

Saturday - a sunny, windy morning. Now I'm beginning to understand why I'm the only one headed in this direction! With the sun behind me all the way, the wind was blowing stronger and stronger - in my face. The trail headed uphill a bit, but the main struggle was against the wind. I was, for once, really looking for a place to sit and have a rest - they are few and far between on this trail - when I came upon this bench. Not in the shade, but it will do!

I sat for a few minutes before tackling the wind again. When I rounded the bens, the wind hit even harder and I was almost horizontal when I came into Wiapiata and into the waiting arms of "Wiapiata Man".

8 K done so far, about 8 more to go, but with this wind, it would seem like 20, so we headed up to Ranfurly where the sand was blowing all over the town, the signs were all flapping in the wind and disorder and disarray was everywhere. After a leisurely lunch and a visit to the hair salon for a shampoo and cut, I headed back down the trail, towards Wiapiata, with the wind behind me! It had slacked off somewhat, but was still pretty brisk and I was pretty happy to have made the decision to reverse my direction.

En route, I was greeted by some friendly horses who acceoted the fact I had no treats, but were friendly just the same.

The next 8 K should have been pretty easy, but th blister on the ball of my foot had spring back to life, another blister was forming on the bottom at the base on my middle toe and there was a blister forming under the callus on my 4th toe - all onthe right foot. I had a really picturesque limp by the time I loped into Wiapiata for the second time.

16 K done as well as a visit to the salon, a rest and a leisurely lunch. And still plenty of daylight, when Wally picked me up (again) in Wiapiata.