At the young age of 60 (and 5/6th) I unexpectedly find that I will soon be free of any commitments for the first time in nearly 40 years. I have for many years thought about walking the length of New Zealand. In my mind the walk has always started from Bluff, the southern most tip of the South Island and finished at Cape Reinga the northern most tip of the North Island. I have always thought that if I ever did the walk it would be up the East Coast. So funnily enough that's what I intend to do. I have no set time to complete the walk and certainly don't want to be beholden to any timetables, I want to enjoy it. I will be staying at camping grounds where they are available and hope occasionally to be invited into peoples homes. In fact I have already had a few offers. I don't image I will be walking more than 25km a day and only 5 days a week, so 125km week at most, often much less. If casual work becomes available I'll stop for a few days or weeks to replenish the coffers. Earlier this year for the 2nd time I took part in the Oxfam Trailwalker event in Taupo where teams of 4 walk 100km together as a team. While training for this event we were walking up to 80km a week while also working full time, therefore I believe I can manage 25km a day with out overdoing it. It is many years since I carried a heavy pack so that's the next test.
Aims of the Walk
- Do something I've always wanted to do
- see and do everything there is to see and do on the way
- See how cheaply I can do it
- Have fun
- Must walk the whole way
- Must start off from where I last left off
- Can catch a boat across estuaries
- where possible walk on the beach
- otherwise keep to most easterly road, track or path unless a main road
- be adaptable
- can change any of the rules for safety reasons
- can change any of the rules cause I want to
My grandchildren have always called me Poppy, hence the name of this blog. I will keep in touch with them and other family and friends via this blog. Not sure yet when the walk will start as our house is on the market and I will wait until it is sold before putting my best foot forward. If the house should sell in the next couple of months then I will start in early October.
The break up of my 2nd marriage has caused me to evaluate my life and what I want to do with it. The walk is what I have decided to do. I have resigned my job as of 23rd September and many people have asked me what I am going to be doing when I leave work, I have been surprised how many people have responded positively. Quite a few have then gone on to tell me what they would do under the same circumstances. So perhaps I am not so unusual after all.
6 comments:
Hey Eric, Good on you, and what an accomplishment it will be, and a fantastic view the whole way. As I'm still in Rotorua, won't be able to offer you a bed, not quite coastal :). Happy to send loads of encouragement though.
From Kathryn (one of your daughters sidekicks from the old Neighbourhood, many moons ago)
Hi Eric
Hi Big Bro been trying to get on this firkin page of yours for ages. Hope this is it this time. Good luck with the BIG WALK. One day Tom Hanks will be you in a major block busting film.........Not sure he could handle the accent tho' DENNIS :)
Hi Poppy, I am very interested in making a movie about your upcoming walk. I see the need for a strong earthy script and I understand that your brother in England is an experienced writer, so we should get him on board ASAP. We could go with the title Wheres Poppy? but I prefer Babe Magnet, it will draw in a wider audience, bums on seats and big bucks are important here. Why Babe Magnet? Well on the walk you will encounter a lot of women who will be drawn to you, so in the movie we'll bring in top box office babes. The script will call for a lot of sex scenes and as you will still be feeling the effects of the long walk I suggest we fly your brother Dennis over from England to stand in for you, Im sure he'd be UP for it. Mull it over.Babe Magnet has mileage for me. Regards Steve Spielburger
Hi Steve, good to hear from you again, bit slow off the mark as usual LOL. As Eric's agent I can advise you that Peter Jackson has already picked up the options on this and it is going to be a blockbuster. Lee Child will the script writer , Sam Neil will be playing the part of Eric and to keep things authentic Eric will be Sam's stunt double for the X rated scenes. Obama will play himself and Tom Cruise will play with himself. Currently still auditioning for the parts of Gandolf and King Kong.
How's the new Bible project going?
Cheers
Roman
Will there be a Babe Magnet sequel?
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