The Roadside

May 4 cont...

I now felt as lonely and vulnerable as a youngkie that had fallen from its nest.
The lady from the Roadside Hotel who picked me up didn't know a word of English but I could see the compassion in her eyes. When we got to the Hotel, she booked me in and got me to my room before I could say 'Will you be my Mummy?'.

I was pleased to see it was tres Western, which meant I had my own bathroom again. The bathrooms in hotels were always a small, fully contained formica box that one steps up into. Yahiro San had told me they were called Unit Bathrooms and they really appealed to my Virgo penchant for orderliness.

What didn't appeal was the cloying stench of cigarettes. New Zealand had laws against smoking inside and I was amazed how quickly I had forgotten how nauseating it could be. Years ago, when I was sick and couldn't afford to go to a doctor, I participated in a research project with the Malaghan Institute. It was to study the effects of cigarette and marijuana smoke and was extensive. I had never smoked a cigarette in my life but I had been surrounded by people who had, but I was still surprised by the finding that I had the beginnings of emphysema. (I also had anaemia - which it turns out is why I wasn't feeling well).

Before I even took my pack off, I flung all the windows open, hoping to deter the atmospheres plans for a welcome party for my lungs.  I prised my feet gingerly out of my shoes and studied the blisters. Ironically, I had got blisters from the gaffer tape that I had put on to prevent them. It was my bad though because I hadn't put the tape on very well and it had folded over on itself, causing the chaffing.

I made a dinner of the last of Taieriki Sans food. While I was eating I went through my Henro bag. I had ended up with about 17 more maps than I needed so I took some out and left them on the counter for the next lost Henro. I then had a bath and listened to the MP3 player my boss gave me for Christmas while soaking my wearys.

As Yahiro San was saying goodbye he told me I needed to be back at temple 11 by 7am. He had set me up with a life saving legacy - a very fit older couple we had met during the day. They were going to meet me there and escort me up the mountain to temple 12. The relief was exhausting but now I was staring into a fresh packet of worries. What if I couldn't keep up? What if any of my stressed body gave out? And I didn't even want to go down the road of potential period dilemma's!!

I couldn't remember the last time I had worn my physical endurance suit but I knew it was moldy, ill fitting and out of date! I considered getting out my travel sewing kit but knew it was too late for repairs. I would just have to do the best I could without unraveling.

It was fortunate I had walked over 20kms that day because as soon as I closed my eyes, sleep wrapped its warm arms around me.

TEXT...

EL to Rachel:

Did 20kms and got to temple 11. Now sitting in bath listening to some Homegrown-blisters and swelling being placated before tomorrows torture...