From Davies Bay Campsite to Havelock
Hiking time: 08:30a.m.-09:30a.m.
Daily/Total distance: 21km/89km (18 hitched)
Steps: 10193
Weather: overcast

I started out the morning waking to throbbing pain in my left pinky toe. Well, that sill probably be my blister. I also heard a bit of drizzle on my tent at 7am and was really annoyed about not having avoided this by getting up earlier and having everything packed. But as soon as it had started it was already gone.

Looking outside I found the German couple packed and ready to head off. Well, they got up really early. So I went ahead and got everything together to head out to. I realised they had left behind a seating pad, so I packed it up to bring as i know they are also going tk Havelock. I had my last serving of wraps with Nutella and Banana chips. All the while my toe is hurting. Maybe the tape was wrapped around too tight? I took it off and it looks red. Hmm, will have to see about that later. I put some wool around it, packed everything up and got going at 8:30am. Only 3 more km to Anakiwa, the end of the QCT.

All the while my toe was hurting while walking. The right knee wasn’t a problem today, but then I didn’t have to go downhill…

I arrived in anakiwa in an hour and was soon on the road. Here it actually got quite chilly. I had already decided to skip this walk along the road. And with my painful toe this decision is cemented even more. I planned to have my thumb up as soon as cars are approaching. Before I had even finalised that thought a car pulled up next to me. “Do you need a lift?” “I’m planning on going to Havelock” “That’s where I’m driving”.

So I got my first lift. The guy was an outdoor instructor for outward bound on his day off going to havelock for a date. He says he often takes TA hikers along the road sections. 5 mins later we picked up another TA hiker who was hitching into Nelson. It now was an easy 30 min drive for us towards Havelock where we were dropped off right next to the supermarket. We said thanks/good luck/goodbye and the driver set off to find his girl. We both decided at this point to go to a cafe for a second breakfast, the sneaky beach cafe. I had such a good chicken, bacon and leek pie there.

We also went our separate ways afterwards as he was continuing on to Nelson. I was unsure yet if I wanted to stay at the backpackers or the holiday park. The tent spots at the holiday park are usually only marginally cheaper than backpacker dorms. As I was deciding I met some other TA hikers in front of the supermarket. Turns out, the holiday park has a reduced price for hikers and cyclists with “only” 15$ a night. So I decided to Camp, as this allows me the privacy of my own tent.

Another German TA hiker was currently organising her food for the next section. I joined her and another guy. We talked about how much to bring as well as the things in your pack you can do without. After this I went into my tent to do a gear shakedown. I don’t really need the big towel, a small one will do just fine.

After sorting through my gear I had a shower so I could afterwards throw all my dirty gear as well as the wet towel into the washing machine. As the washing machine was running I went into town. My first stop was the pharmacy to ask about my toe as well as check on their postal services they offer. They have all the envelopes and boxes one could need to send something nationally or internationally. Asking about my toe, the lady behind the counter said it is infected. To my question what I should do next she replied antibiotics. I couldn’t get those there though, as you need a prescription from a doctor. There is no doctor in havelock though, so I need to go to another town to get that done. Such a bother.

Next I passed the outdorr store, where I finally found some shock chords to buy so I can have pile holders on my shoulder strap of my pack. I also went to the supermarket to buy some cheese and salami as these are the only things not present in my food package. All the while in town I had with me the seat pad on the off chance that I run into the German couple.

Back at the holiday park I actually run into them just setting up their tent. So I handed them their pad which they were very thankful over. Then we got talking about me hitching and my infected toe as well as having to find a doctor the next day to get antibiotics. She then had a look herself. Turns out she is a pharmacist in Germany. She told me to let the toe soak in water until it gets all wrinkly. Then you put antiseptic cream on it in a thick layer. Afterwards you wrap it in plastic so that it continues to stay moist and the antiseptic is further absorbed. As I had nothing else to do treatment wise at that moment I went to do just that.

I wanted to do so after hanging up my laundry. At the washing machine I realise though that the washing was not even half done. Due to an unbalanced load, caused by my inlet, the topliader stopped the washing cycle. So I redistributed the inlet and let it continue to run. All the while I had my foot in a sink filled with water. I then followed the instruction and wrapped a corner of a zip lock bag around the toe.

So that is the toe sorted for now. Hung up the washing and went back to sorting through my pack. In the end I had a couple of things together to send away. Away went my gorillapod, big towel, small stuffed animal companion, cap, remnants, some paperwork, carabiners, my 3rd lair of socks, the extra buff and bandana as well as some small things. It all came together to 1.2kg in the end. Very nice. So I went of to the pharmacy to get this sent off.

All necessary things done, I went to make dinner and started talking to loads other people around. There was a German girl on a sabbatical cycling around various countries. A German couple with their mountain bikes cycling around New Zealand. A couple from the US doing the TA. A kiwi/scottish couple who had just started a hiking holiday around the South Island of New Zealand. He had an accident on their second day though and broke his arm. Now they are looking into alternative plans. There was also a German family on a holiday with 2 small children, one of which will be starting school come September. So it is their last chance for an extended vacation. They had some very nice chicken kebabs for dinner and as they had so many leftover I managed to score 2 for myself. This was a nice treat as my dinner of Mac n cheese was to runny again.

Afterwards I talked more with various people. The German couple got also talking with me about the infection. They also had the suggestion, that if it is not working I should soak the toe for an hour in soapy water. Apparently that will open up the infected part where puss will be inside and have it leak out. I will just have to see how it goes

In the end I ended up staying up way too late. I realised at some point that this would be my last night with power. So I went ahead to charge my power bank and akkus. I also tried to write the first blogpost but there were server issues preventing me from uploading images. I also went ahead and changed the wrapping around my toe. While doing so I saw where the infection was on top of my toe on the joint below my nail. So I got out a sterilized needle to pop that thing and let the puss out. Afterwards I reapplied the antiseptic and wrapped it again. Hopefully this will have taken care of everything. In the end I went to bed at around midnight.