100-MILE WALK

Opunake Times, 25 July 1941, Page 5

100-MILE WALK

OCTOGENARIAN’S FEAT

NOT A “BACK NUMBER”

J Eighty years of active life and a ( walk of* more than 100 miles seem, as widely separated as the poles, but not for Mr. J. Wells, of Whangarei. Friends of Mr. Wells had insinuated, that at 81 years he was past his bestand would have to “slow down.’’ Privately, Mr. Wells took umbrage at the suggestion and resolved to show his friends that even at four score years ho was not a back number. Wishing to visit his daughter in Semuera, Auckland, he decided to walk, and ho set off on the 100-mile journey on a recent Monday morning. It was five and a-half days later that he reached his daughter’s home, having averaged more than 20 miles a day. He had walked every step except for the final stage from Newmarket to Remuora! It was 8 a.m. on a Monday morning when Mr, Wells sot off and lunch-timc on Saturday when ho arrived —a remarkable feat of endurance for a man of such an age. Mr. Wells met with many kindnesses on the way. In fact, he salespeople rvere too kind, affording him considerable embarrassment at times The difficulty was to avoid being picked up by friendly motorists, but he had made up his mind to walk, and walk he did. One elderly woman offered to pay his railway fare to Auckland. It was only with great difficulty that Mr. Wells convinced her that ho had money of his own and that ho was not walking because he could not afford to pay his fare. On the following day another woman wanted to give him money, and again Mr. Wells had difficulty in convincing her that he was not in need. Mr. Wells finished' his “hike” ns fresh as when ho without any footsoroness or weariness, and satisfied that lie had proved that he ivas still a force to be reckoned with ns a walker.