Back On My Feet

What was the longest place name in the world (until I created a longer one)

Peter &Cocoa. peter and his wife Michelle provided me with accommodation and took my pack 15km.

Natural stone arches near Cape Kidnappers

Gannet Colony - Cape Kidnappers

Looking back towards Cape Kidnappers

Total distance walked since November 2011 = 2226km. Total North Island = 490km

I caught a bus to Napier on Monday 11th March and stayed the night with friends Bev & Chris. They have been brilliant hosts and loaned me Chris's fishing wagon as well as ferrying me around.

On Tuesday I drove to Porangahau to Peter & Michelle Haynes place. Peter had picked me up when, I hitchhiked out with a sore foot, a few weeks ago and had offered me accommodation when I returned. On the way I drove a short side trip to visit the spot with the worlds longest name.
Here goes:

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipuakaapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu

82 letters long and translated means "The hilltop where Tamatea, with big knees, conqueror of mountains,eater of land, traveller over land and sea,played with his kaouau (flute) to his beloved'

After meeting Michelle and having a cup of tea Peter drove me up Cooks Tooth Road to where I had previously left off walking. I renamed this spot and it is now the newest longest place name in the world.

Theveryspotwhereerichadtostopwalkingbecauseofaverysorefootonhisepicwalkfromblufftocapereinga-
andwherehelaterresumedwalkingfromafteraccupuncturehadfixedhisfoot

If there are any sign writers reading this who would like to sponsor me by erecting a sign on the above spot, please contact me.

It didn't take long to walk the 7km and I then drove to Blackhead to check out my route for the next couple of days. Later back at Peter& Michelle's place Bev & Chris came out after work and picked up their car.

On Wednesday I walked 20km, first along a sealed road and then a metal road, as the coast is too rocky to walk around. Peter brought my pack to me and met me on the road after 15km. After another 5km I met a man coming out of a paddock and I enquired about accommodation in shearers quarters. He took my pack on to the next farm where Ron said that the owner was away for a few hours but thought it would be OK if I stayed in an outside room behind his house. Later he introduced me to Jane the bosses wife who at first appeared disgruntled and taken aback that a hobo had taken up residence. She later warmed to the idea and provided me with a couple of apples. The next morning Ron provided me with a cooked breakfast and Jane's husband James offered to take my pack 12km into Blackhead.

I arrived at Blackhead on the coast at 10am and James delivered my pack an hour later. After two hours of walking on good hard sand I arrived at Pourerere (having walked past Aromona). I introduced myself to the camp custodian Dick and he agreed to sponsor me by providing a caravan for the night. I spent a comfortable night and Dick was able to give me directions for the next day.

On Friday it was 21km up the beach to Kairakau. Some good hard sand and also some slow rock bits. Due to carrying my pack it was quite slow going in the heat. Sometimes I was taking a 10minute break after 20 minutes walking. Two Km from my destination I met Peter & Robyn picnicking on the beach with their granddaughter. They had the whole sandy beach to themselves. Peter took my photo and agreed to carry my pack to the camping ground. The camp itself was very basic, although they charged top dollar. After asking several people I finally got good info on the next days walk. Viviene, a local gave me the use of her phone and I called Nigel from Te Apiti Station who happily gave me permission to walk through the Station to join up two no exit roads.

Saturday was another 21km, on roads and vehicle tracks, to Waimarama. After 5km John and Neil took my pack 2km to Te Apiti Station. After meeting the manager Nigel, it was a very hot walk along a vehicle track for 5km. Just as I came out onto the road again I met Brett exiting his lifestyle block to head into Waimarama and he agreed to take my pack.  On arrival at the camping ground I set up my tent near the kitchen and alongside a covered BBQ area. Big mistake! Later that night 5 young people, not staying at the camp, decided it was a great place for a party. My polite request for them to move on was greeted by derision and abuse. They did move on but as they moved away they were talking loudly about the person who had dared interrupt their fun. I heard one of the girls suggest that they return and "do something to his tent". I was awake for ages after that but nothing untoward happened and I eventually got to sleep. Next morning when I reported the incident to the camp manager he told me that the young people were relatives of his. Congratulations Waimarama, this is the only place I've ever had any problems since setting out!

On Sunday it was a short 8km walk up the beach to Ocean Beach, mostly good hard sand but I had to walk in the sea a couple times as I was too impatient to wait for the tide to recede. Chris and Bev, picked me up from the Ocean Beach and drove me back to Napier. On the way they took me to Clifton to get information about walking around Cape Kidnappers.

I drove back to Ocean Beach in Chris's wagon on Monday. I didn't start walking until 11am because of the tides. After 8km of sandy beach a rocky headland obstructed my way. I explored a dry stream bed through a canyon which only took me inland so returned to the beach and waited for the tide to recede. Getting impatient I then scaled a steep hill and walked North until I found a way back down to the beach. While descending the hill I saw more skinks that I have seen in the entire journey so far.
More sandy beaches interspersed with rocky outcrops, which required wading in the sea to get around, eventually brought me to Cape Kidnappers (famous for its Gannet Colonies). Here I had to climb another steep hill, on top of which is the main Gannet Colony. As I had been there before I didn't linger long and found the coastal walkway to Clifton. As I had arranged for Chris & Bev to pick me up after work I  walked the remaining 9km in an hour and a quarter. On the way I saw several other walkers and a tractor, with two trailers full of passengers, all going out to view the Gannets. Chris & Bev then drove me back to Ocean Beach to retrieve their car.

Yesterday and today have been rest days. I am pleased to report that my feet and legs are all feeling good with only a small amount of stiffness so I'm looking forward to the next section. Tomorrow I will walk the remaining 24km from Clifton to Napier. On Friday I then start walking north from Napier.