I soaked for hours and hours. My foot was so swollen at this point from the nerve damage and continuing to walk on it that my toes were barely recognizable. It was all red and puffy, so I held it high in the air for quite some time to lessen the blood in the area. It was a fantastic night.
I learned something important that evening in Greymouth. When I say every city teaches me something different, it really is true. Every track, every route, every city, town, island... They all hold certain lessons for me. It's almost as if the lessons were there waiting already and as I just follow the wind, carefree and without a plan in the world - I walk head on, straight into these life lessons that will forever be held in my heart.
Greymouth taught me, that I can spoil myself. I was able to purchase a hotel room, for myself. I took a bath with lots of shampoo to create bubbles, for myself (and yes, I took the hotel shampoo bottle and am STILL using it. Fantastic.) I bought a lovely dinner of a hamburger and fries, for myself and ate them in bed while watching 20 minutes of TV (it was all I could handle) ... For myself. I went to the thrift shop and bought a used dress, for myself, because I needed something clean to wear while I did my washing. I popped my blisters, rubbed my aching muscles, and applied skin repair cream, for myself. And took as good of care of myself as anyone could.
I almost bought myself flowers! (If only money grew on trees...)
It was a beautiful lesson. It felt wonderful to spoil myself and to feel special and accomplished and allow myself one night of luxury before hostel camping and more backcountry routes once again held me in their arms.
After my divorce, it has been difficult for me to feel "spoiled." For a long time, I just told myself I would wait until I was ready to date again, and then my next partner could take care of spoiling me. Since my feminist perspective has a lens on everything in my life, it's not that I was waiting for my partner to "take care of me..." But sometimes it is nice to feel spoiled in relationships.
I have FINALLY come to realize - that I can just as easily spoil myself, pamper myself, massage my aching feet and soothe my wounded heart. What a beautiful lesson Greymouth taught me that blissful evening.