Walker Will Now Take His Time

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31830, 7 November 1968, Page 8

Walker Will Now Take His Time

(Ncw Zealand Frees Association)

AUCKLAND, November 5.

The war-veteran walker, Mr T. A. Sampson, aged 88, has abandoned his intention to walk 397 miles from Auckland to Wellington in a fortnight.

Two days and 45 miles wiser, Mr Sampson said today that -he would take his time over the journey. When he reached Papakura on Monday afternoon 20 miles short of Pokeno, his projected first stop, he fell over from weakness in his legs. “A lady found me and thought I was drunk. I said, •Nb, I’m not drunk. I’ve just walked from Auckland.’ She asked me in for a cup of tea.”

He spent Monday night at Papakura Military Camp, where he received V.I.P. treatment.

“It was the soldiers who persuaded me I wouldn't be able to keep to such a' solid itinerary," he said. “They said I was a damned old fool, and so I was.” He had intended to walk between 30 and 36 miles a day in order to complete the 397 miles in a fortnight. Today Mr Sampson set out at 9.30 a.m. and finished his day’s walking at Meremere at 1.15 p.m., where the Mercer police had arranged overnight accommodation at the power station hostel.

Apart from fatigue and a slight stiffness In his hipjoints, he is fit and prepar-

ing to set out tomorrow for Huntly, 16 miles from Meremere.

Mr Sampson is confident he will complete the whole journey.

“I haven’t had to spend any money yet,” he said. “This hospitality is lovely. I’ve been very comfortable everywhere I’ve stopped. It’s nice to have a meal and a shower and somewhere to rest up.” He had nothing but praise for the police. “They’ve been most obliging and helpful, finding me places to sleep and really going out of their way to make sure I’ve got everything I need,” he said.