Rock, paper, scissors and angels' wings

I just returned from "The finest walk in the world" on the Milford Track. It's been called "the finest" for decades and recent travel writers (including me!) don't disagree. The bus pulled into Te Anau today where we had picked up Kate, one of our guides, five days ago. Five days! It seemed like two weeks ago! We looked at the bus next to us full of hikers ready to leave to start their tramp on the Milford. We didn't talk, but what could have I have said? It was the hardest, most challenging, longest, most challenging, mind over matter - did I say challenging?- hike I've ever done.
Day one was the paper hike. The kind of hike, when finished, you say, THAT was a long 11 mile walk in the woods, with many photo stops, side trips and just a 'take your time' fun day. It was called the 'easy day' by the guides.
Day two was labelled the 'hard day'. It was the rock hike - eight hours of mind numbing - mind over rocks - concentration. Rocks, big rocks and bigger rocks to climb up for three hours and climb down for five more. Nine long miles of scrambling over, around and through rocks! Was there scenery? Yes. Did I see it for more than 10 minutes of the entire time. NO! I was looking down at rocks so I didn't fall and break my head, foot, arm, leg or whatever.  After the 'up' rocks, I ate the lunch I had made and carried to the top and I started down the rocks, er, mountain. Suddenly, I got hotter and hotter, nausea set in and I was having trouble seeing where to step. Luckily, Yuca, (You-kah), our Japanese angel guide was at a rock avalance site to show us how to navigate it. She left and walked with me until Bec, another angel guide, took over and walked with me the five slow hours down to our rest stop for the night. I honestly felt the brush of their angels' wings and the angel wing prayers of those of you whom I know pray regularly for me! THANK YOU! I could not have gutted this out without you!! 
Day three was scissors day, i.e. the long day. We had 13.5 miles to get to the finish and the boat ride back. Believe it or not, I said to myself, " I've done four 1/2 marathons (13.1 miles) and I can do this, too. It's just another 1/2!"  I know. It sounded crazy when I said it to myself, too. I took off and did my Galloway run-walk-run for the day! I walked on the rocky parts -about 30% - and ran with my FULL backpack the flat parts of the course, er, track! I came in fourth out of forty-nine in our group for the day! WOO-HOO! I felt strong and good! Well, I felt that way until I realized that the seventy-two year old man in our group came in second! But, we all celebrated our success that night, got our certificates and took a cruise on Milford Sound (fjord) this morning. Some of the group came up to me telling me that they saw me running (!) that day and how strong I was. But I just asked them, "What do they call the person who ranks last in his or her class in medical school?" Don't know? Well, we call him or her "Doctor". Finishing is what's important, not the ranking. And - again, THANK YOU -all of you angels - for your thoughts and prayers to help me through my 'doctorate' in tramping the Milford Track. sending love and hugs

 Photos 1 - 8, day 1, trail start, trail toilet, making lunch before breakfast, one of many suspension bridges, bog trail, one of the couples cooling (freezing) our feet in pond along the way, 'bus' stop (place to stop and stay in event of the usual rock avalance nearby), laundry facilities - we washed our one set of clothes out each day, put them through the mangler (wringer, like Mom had for many years!) and hung them in the drying room. Photos 9 and 10, day 2, MacKinnon (who found the pass through the mountains) Memorial at the top of the mountain and me before... Photos 11 to 15, day 3, one of the fabulous views along the track, lunch at a waterfall and, for me, foot freezing time again, end of the track victory photos, me with all the angel guides, Yuca, Bec, Megan and Kate after getting my certificate. Photo 16, day 4, a postcard day on the morning cruise on Milford Sound (fjord). 
We had great weather all four days - only light rain on day 2- which is phenomenal in a rainforest like this which receives 21 - 27 feet of rain a year. What a blessing!!!!
ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS: Paper, day 1, definitely beat rocky day 2 for the paper photographs that I got on the way; Rock, day 2, smashed scissors on day 3 with 'rock solid' determination; Scissors, on day 3, cut through the paper on day 1, 'slicing' and 'dicing' the track by running hard.
I'll never think of the rock, paper, scissors game the same way again!