tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21203069300787111622024-03-05T19:26:51.752-08:00Where's Poppy?Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-34566015548678142242014-04-01T19:10:00.000-07:002014-04-01T19:10:46.106-07:00The Last Post Im not sure if I will be making further posts here but I just liked the title.<br />
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Well folks I finally made it! After 2.5 years and 4400km I reached Cape Reinga on Thursday 27th March at 12 noon. Man it felt good to finally finish. After reaching the lighthouse and being greeted by a dozen friends and family I then made my way down to the beach and washed my hands in the sea. As this is what I did when I left Bluff. While I was there I collected my friends Gwen and Ringi who had gone to the beach in the mistaken belief that I would walk around the rocks. Instead I came along the Coastal Walkway. Once we were back at the lighthouse we assembled in the car park, I made a short speech and we all had bubbly, kindly supplied by Charissa.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends & Family</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More friends</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wKyx7qH4kbHH5HzKHmNjyLoHMKQJoZnVG-7xC1xXmthiD-fzTIGw-F67fFH9VAn2rysUXyAqSU58hyncnLAbbZ2ZCknFkD8f7QcONeGrfDf3DIZ2EYa8CD-CN-gRUG1F4ReR_3VKKcUO/s1600/Kaylah+n+pinheads+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wKyx7qH4kbHH5HzKHmNjyLoHMKQJoZnVG-7xC1xXmthiD-fzTIGw-F67fFH9VAn2rysUXyAqSU58hyncnLAbbZ2ZCknFkD8f7QcONeGrfDf3DIZ2EYa8CD-CN-gRUG1F4ReR_3VKKcUO/s1600/Kaylah+n+pinheads+2.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My granddaughter Kaylah. You can just make out three dots on the beach, myself Gwen and Ringi.</td></tr>
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But I am getting ahead of myself.<br />
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After being holed up at the Rockhouse Backpackers for two days waiting for the remains of Cyclone Lusi to blow through I was keen to get back on the road again on Monday 17th March. It was 10km of walking on the main road to Awanui where I booked into a run down motel unit behind the hotel. Another 17km of road walking brought me to Kaimaumau Road, from where I hitched back to Awanui.<br />
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It took over an hour to get a ride next morning and I was then dropped off 5 km from my start point so it was 10am before I "officially" started to walk. It is 11 km down Kaimaumau Road to East Beach. I originally intended walking to the camp at Houhora Heads but after 3 people warned me about a deep stream I turned up a farm track, after 12km, and 2 km before Houhora. The track eventually led me to a farmhouse where Croydon gave me tea and bickies along with directions to the road. From there I hitched into Pukenui and stayed at the camp. Although I'd walked 32 km (all with the pack) I could only count 27 km for the day. I must have looked like I needed feeding up as Juan a young Argentinian, one of several seasonal orchard workers living at the camp, gave me water melon and avocado. This started a trend for the next few days of people giving me food!<br />
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Next morning Jo, the camp owner, was heading south and dropped me off at my start point. It was an easy 3 km road walk back to the camp where I picked up my pack, bought supplies at the shop and headed north 13 km up SH1 and then 4 km of metal road to Rawara Beach. I met Eric & Tony, two guys in their 60's who have been mates since childhood, on a boys camping trip. They were due to start heading home next day and explained that they had brought too much food with them. Would I help them out? I'm pleased to report that I did my best to help them diminish their food and beer supplies! I had two platefuls of steak, pork chops, potato, green beans & peas.<br />
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When I set off on Thursday morning they gave me ham and a bag of tomatoes. I walked 13 km up the beach along Greta Expectation Bay. On the way I met Bobby and his two adult nephews fishing, they donated a bag of feijoa's and a bag of home baking to my food supplies! A vehicle track crosses the sand spit which the locals call "The Crossing" and which I christened 'The Sahara Crossing" as it is all sand with little vegetation. After hiding my pack in the sand dunes I then recrossed the crossing and walked another 15 km around Kokota (the Sandspit). After collecting my pack I failed to find a vehicle track marked on my map and headed across the sand dunes and eventually made camp in the dunes after 35 km for the day. My tent pegs were useless in the sand but I managed to find an old fence baton which I smashed into spike shaped pieces and they did the job.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sahara Crossing</td></tr>
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On Friday morning I turned off the beach after 1 km and took a forestry track 6 km to SH1. I saw two cars and a logging truck on the forestry track, the second car stopped. I thought I was going to be told off for trespassing but the driver asked me where I was from. He then told me that the TV news had reported that the police were looking for me as my family were worried about me! I explained that it must be a case of mistaken identity as I had received texts from my family the night before. I was fascinated to watch him, as he had a quarter inch of cigarette stuck to his lip which moved up and down as he talked. Once on the main road I did another 10km before it rained and I then hitched into Waitiki Landing. I booked into "The Dungeon" a windowless room, but at least it had a bed and I hadn't been sleeping very well in my tent. I was to stay here 3 nights during which time Lyle the manager donated snapper fillets and eggs to my menu. I also met Ron an Australian who had just biked from Bluff to Cape Reinga in 47 days so I helped him celebrate with a beer. The dungeon was blacker than a black cat in a coal locker at midnight and I slept soundly, the sound was me snoring!<br />
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It took nearly as long to hitch back to my start point next day as it did to walk the 10km back to Waitiki Landing. As I was now ahead of schedule I took Sunday off.<br />
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It was an easy 15km of road walking to Spirits Bay on Monday where I set up my tent in the DOC camp. From there the Cape Reinga Walkway starts.<br />
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On Tuesday I walked 3km up the beach to Pandora where there is a small DOC shelter and then 14km up a track over hills to Taputaputo Bay. I set up my tent for the last time and spent two nights here. I met Tony and Kath who loaned me a magazine, as I was out of reading material, and bought me chocolate when they went out. Also Lesley and Colin gave me newspapers and muesli bars as well as selling me a gas bottle. On the first night my tent was full of mosquitoes but the wind kept them at bay on the second night.<br />
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Finally on Thursday morning I set off to cover the remaining 5km to Cape Reinga. Up and down a couple of steep hills. Then there was my son Adam, daughter in law Adele, grandson Cory and granddaughter Kaylah who had walked down to meet me. Nearly there Poppy!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the final approach to Cape Reinga, up and down a couple of hills.</td></tr>
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<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-90897413332679501632014-03-15T16:13:00.000-07:002014-03-15T16:30:09.841-07:00Holed Up In Karikari Peninsula As Storm Blows Through<br />
On Friday 7th March I caught a bus back to Kerikeri. Bob picked me up from the bus stop and I spent another pleasant stay with him and Helen. Next day I walked on roads towards Matauri Bay. Jan a rural postie took my pack 3km and I collected it from the local gas station, where I was given oranges. After 25km I then hitched to Matauri Bay and booked into the camp. Next morning I hitched back and walked the remaining 17km back to camp. In the afternoon I visited the Rainbow Warrior memorial above the camp. The ship is now a dive wreck, not far off the coast.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainbow Warrior memorial Matauri Bay</td></tr>
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After a 2nd night of poor sleep in my tent, I left Matauri Bay and headed for Whangaroa 25km away, all on roads. There were some spectacular views looking back down on Matauri Bay. At Wainui Bay I met Sailor walking on the road. We walked together for a couple of kms. He's in his twenties and as we walked he told me about his life. He has 7 brothers and sisters, although his father has 15 children! I had my big pack and Sailor wasn't carrying anything but I found I easily outpaced him up the hills and had to keep slowing down. Later a van stopped to offer me a ride and agreed to take my pack the final 7km to the camp. Once at the camp I booked into a cabin and finally got a good nights sleep, despite the dozens of mosquito's in the room .<br />
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Next day I called in at a Farm Hostel after 12kkm but it was full. I managed 22km on SH10 towards Mangonui when a couple of Brazilian tourists did a u turn to offer me a ride. I booked into a small backpackers room at the Mangonui Hotel. I was disappointed with the pub meal that night as the steak was full of gristle. Two things made me smile. One of the toilets at the pub was out of order and the sign said "Sorry for any inconvenience". The local shop had a bin of dated stock, one of the items was a box of condoms!<br />
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It took 30 minutes next morning to get a ride back to where I'd been picked up the day before and I walked the 12km back to the pub and collected my pack. The local information centre had advised me that there is a backpackers at Cable Bay. I walked 5km via roads and Coopers Beach to Cable Bay only to discover there are lots of B&B's but no backpackers. Jane, the local shopkeeper, was heading to Kaitia and gave me a ride to The Rockhouse Backpackers on Karikari Peninisular. Tonight will be my 5th night here.<br />
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This is quite a small establishment with just 6 backpackers beds. I have a large room with a small kitchen, an en-suite shower and toilet, for $30 a night. On Thursday I hitched back to Cable Bay and walked back here where I had lunch and then headed for Tokerau Beach via a rough track. I took a wrong turning and ended up crashing through gorse, scrub and an overgrown dry lake bed. Once on the beach I realized that I'd lost my bandana in the scrub. It was the 3rd one I'd lost so far and had been with me since Wellington. Once on the beach I removed my boots and walked for 9km down the sandy beach. Years ago this used to be the only way in and was used as a road. There is a 30km hour speed limit on the beach but twice I was passed by cars doing what seemed like 100km. At the end of the beach I walked to Matai Bay Rd and, after having takeaways for dinner, hitched back here having walked 24km for the day. <br />
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Friday was a big day of 34km. Initially it was going to be a day off but as a large storm was forecast for Saturday and Sunday I decided to take those days off instead. I easily got a ride back to my start point and walked towards Matai Bay. A track leads down to Karikari Beach and I walked the entire 6km of beautiful sandy beach without seeing anyone. In fact I spoke to nobody all day. I followed cattle tracks around the rocky headland between Karikari Beach and Puwheke Beach. Another 3km of beach brought me to a vehicle track, 6km of roads then 7km of rough vehicle track and finally 4km of road. It had been threatening to rain all day and there had been a few short showers. Once I reached the main road and tried to hitch the rain started in earnest, so I phoned Ian the owner of the backpackers and he kindly picked me up.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfE5aeRjp7Cxp0MTYu1KsEaplmXF31VqRjsz3gdINugxdLpawKUl8fF5J-ZvqLs0wfO1lRCihi86676oOOpaBBi9okH4pXA_Zn-gOzsZ49imsKSyKIGdW4yvVVS67GSt7MFw_iTSyM3o81/s1600/DSCF1787%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfE5aeRjp7Cxp0MTYu1KsEaplmXF31VqRjsz3gdINugxdLpawKUl8fF5J-ZvqLs0wfO1lRCihi86676oOOpaBBi9okH4pXA_Zn-gOzsZ49imsKSyKIGdW4yvVVS67GSt7MFw_iTSyM3o81/s1600/DSCF1787%5B1%5D.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karikari Beach</td></tr>
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Yesterday it was baked bean weather, wet and windy, as Cyclone Lusi made its way south. There has been no major damage here but further south there has been flooding and power cuts.<br />
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I'm still on track to make the final 156 km's to Cape Reinga on Thursday 27th March at 12 noon. <br />
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About a dozen or so family and friends have said they will be there to greet me and I'm really looking forward to that.Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-78679288766328599762014-03-05T23:11:00.000-08:002014-03-05T23:11:31.965-08:00Last LegTomorrow I catch the bus to Kerikeri and on Saturday start the final leg of my journey. Although "final leg" may not be the right expression when referring to a walk.<br />
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I don't usually preplan where I will be on a particular day but in this case I have calculated my end date and time, as several people have expressed a desire to be at Cape Reinga when I get there.<br />
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Please put the following into your diary:<br />
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12 noon on Thursday 27th March.<br />
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Apart from WW3 breaking out or any such major disaster I will stick to that date and time. I have allowed a few rest days between now and then. If I should get delayed at any stage I will abandon rest days until I catch up.<br />
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It does seem unreal to be finally coming to the finish.<br />
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See you all on the 27th.Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-14961252120801115362014-03-01T19:31:00.002-08:002014-03-01T19:31:38.135-08:00Nearing The Top & The EndOn Thursday 27th February I reached Kerikeri in the far north.<br />
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My hosts in Whangarei, Lisca, Rhianon & Chris had arranged accommodation at Whangarei Heads with friends of theirs Gary & Sue. On Wednesday 12th February Chris dropped my pack at Gary's workplace, so I had an easy walk through Whangarei and over the new river bridge. After walking on the road I took a walkway around the coast past Onerahi. The rest of the 32km for the day was on the road. On the way I met Kip who owns a B&B, he offered me a free bed for the night. When I explained that I already had a bed for the night he said "well if they mistreat you, come back here". At Parua Bay I bought the local paper with an article about my walk. The photo was taken in such a way that my feet took up the biggest part of it. Sue and Gary looked after me with a pleasant room, food and conversation. They entertained me with their travel stories.<br />
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I only managed 16km next day but it was a hard days walking. Initially along the road and then by walking tracks to WW2 gun emplacements and then to Smugglers Cove. I was pleased not to have my pack with me as what came next on the Bream Head Track was a series of steps up past Mt Lion. I stopped often as the steps just went on and up, then up some more. When I thought it couldn't go up any more, it did! Then more, and yet more again! The 5km to Ocean Beach took 3.5 hours. Once there, I texted Gary who brought my pack and I set up my tent.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-SomwsakVdAKx0sBGus_ZcgPInJTOBxljFn4VGnX8vMxSRubwJOGI-Q3hyphenhyphengLlKmjZd0hDOx1ueO-uVrDQvfDdSLs2JGYMfDKuAdfaM_eR_qvdcFq9N1Cr3oSQWvpLNQDN6PoRbonxeIA/s1600/DSCF1687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-SomwsakVdAKx0sBGus_ZcgPInJTOBxljFn4VGnX8vMxSRubwJOGI-Q3hyphenhyphengLlKmjZd0hDOx1ueO-uVrDQvfDdSLs2JGYMfDKuAdfaM_eR_qvdcFq9N1Cr3oSQWvpLNQDN6PoRbonxeIA/s1600/DSCF1687.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smugglers Cove from part way up the Bream Head Track</td></tr>
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Next morning I got wet feet trying to get around a rocky outcrop, then had to retrace my steps and go over a high sandbank. After 6km of beach I turned onto Kauri Mountain Rd and then onto a track over Kauri Mountain (just 245m high). Later as I was walking on the road again Roz and Hugh stopped and invited me to their B&B, Tidesong, for lunch. Over lunch I learnt that last year Hugh had a kidney transplant and Ros provided the kidney. After a large lunch I didn't feel like going much further and so I was given a room for the night (and later dinner) at very a reasonable rate.<br />
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Hugh and son Bruce ferried my pack 2km up the estuary next morning while Ros walked with me up the road. Shortly after I crossed the Pataua footbridge across an estuary. 14km of road then brought me to the Mackarel Forest Track. Despite being overgrown I really enjoyed this stretch of track, as it meandered beside a pine plantation and a stream. Another 4km of road walking brought me back to the main road where I hitched to Tutukaka. I was picked up by Peter who not only knew my hosts from last night but also my sons boss in Whangamata. I booked into a backpackers room at the Motor Camp for 3 nights after walking 20km for the day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iVOsdyZGNXEPLRBs_ea9DsdsRRvyVdHC54vksLP3ZJi8rI2c202rdIUjrqbDQEI3c_pziiMSNvQ5ib0QXxf61DTl_t7Ks8NIJ_QAS7oe0R5TKObWqqzBc5TsGC1yF3eso_3ZeWTpfnLW/s1600/DSCF1703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iVOsdyZGNXEPLRBs_ea9DsdsRRvyVdHC54vksLP3ZJi8rI2c202rdIUjrqbDQEI3c_pziiMSNvQ5ib0QXxf61DTl_t7Ks8NIJ_QAS7oe0R5TKObWqqzBc5TsGC1yF3eso_3ZeWTpfnLW/s1600/DSCF1703.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ros,Hugh & Bruce. </td></tr>
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The following day I hitched back to my start point and walked the 20km back to the camp mostly on roads but also over rocks along the coast. Monday was a rest day and I did a short walk to a lighthouse.<br />
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When I set off on Tuesday it was threatening rain but we only had a few spits. On the way to Matapouri my pack was taken on for about a km. Once at Matapouri I left my pack with the helpful male shopkeeper who was wearing a lovely short white dress. I walked along the beach and then the Whalebay Walkway before returning and collecting my pack. From Sandy Bay a 6km walkway took me to Whananaki where I walked across the 400m pedestrian bridge to the Motor Camp. The weather didn't look too promising so I booked into a cabin. Later a fine misty rain rolled in and stayed for the next couple of days.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Footbridge at Whananaki</td></tr>
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After 2 days and 3 nights I left Whananaki on Friday 21st at 8am and followed the Te Araroa trail through pine forests and bush. The track was quite steep and slippery in places after the rain. It took 6 hours to cover 10km, including an hour I lost after taking a wrong turning and having to retrace my steps. Later, on the road, I hitched to Whangaruru and stayed at the Motor Camp.<br />
Next morning I hitched back and Bill picked me up and went 4km out of his way to drop me at my start point. It was just a 13km walk back to the camp.<br />
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On Sunday it was a 12km walk on a sealed road to The Farm where I appeared to be the only guest at this very busy backpackers. The owners Ellen and Michael have 9 children and also employ a lot of WWOOFERS to help out with school camps, horse treks and trail bike riding. I was given a room with an ensuite for $20.<br />
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On Monday I walked 21km along roads, stopping for lunch at lovely Te Uenga Bay where people were kayaking and swimming in the blue water. At Jacks Bay I was offered a ride to Russell. Bruce dropped me off at the Oranga Bay Holiday Park. The cabins were too expensive for me and the tent sites were the most expensive I've come across yet at $25, although they discounted it to $22. As Don the owner was going into Russell later he agreed to take me in to do some shopping. When we got back his wife Angela said " well you should be very happy, you've had good value for $22". I met a family staying at the camp who live in Whangamata and know my son and daughter in law. When they read about me in their local paper they had gone down to the road to wait with oranges, but I'd already gone past. Hopefully the oranges were for eating not throwing!<br />
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Next morning as I left the camp I noticed a, newly placed, blackboard sign saying "Tent Sites from $19". Bruce who picked me up the day before owned the local school buses and so I was able to get a ride back to my start point on a school bus. It was 10km of road walking back to the camp, on the way I picked up an expired passport on the side of the road, so I placed it in the next mailbox I came to. I wonder what the people thought when they next collected their mail! As my Sherpas did not turn up again I had to carry my own pack for the rest of the day. A 4km track that seemed much longer, due to some steep bits, took me to Okiato. Unusually I saw lots of other people walking the track. At Okiato I took the ferry to Opua, a bargain at $1! A 6km coastal track then took me to Paihia where I stayed in a backpackers for two nights<br />
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Wednesday was a day off and I took the ferry to Russell and back. On Thursday I left Paihia and walked to Kerikeri via Waitangi. At Mt Bledisloe I turned into the forest and was confronted by a sign saying it was closed to the public, due to logging operations. I phoned the DOC number displayed on the sign and spoke to Steve. He is that most unusual of people, friendly, helpful and knowledgable. He advised me that, as my route would not go through the logging area, I could proceed. After 11km of forestry road I then walked on public roads to Kerikeri and past the Stone Store to the home of Bob & Helen, relatives of friends. They have a lovely home and a large garden complete with a waterfall. Bob welcomed me with home brew.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside Stone Store Kerikeri, one of NZ's oldest buildings</td></tr>
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On Friday morning Bob drove me back into Kerikeri from where I caught the bus to Hamilton.<br />
I am here for a week and then back to Kerikeri and the final segment to Cape Reinga.<br />
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Total walked so far = 4122km.<br />
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<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-537183801605680872014-02-10T14:04:00.000-08:002014-02-10T14:04:07.085-08:00Getting There (Now in Whangarei)I restarted walking on Saturday 1st February with a 32km day. From Arkles Bay on Whangarporoa Peninisula, I took a mixture of footpaths and roads to Gulf Harbour and then walkways and paths to Shakespear Park. My map showed the end of the peninsula to be Defence Force land and not to be entered but, as it was low tide, I was able to walk around it and beyond. After 3 hours of walking on the beach the tide was coming in, which resulted in wet feet as I edged around a sea cave. Just beyond the cave were steep rocks where someone had, conveniently, placed a rope. As I pulled myself over the edge I came face to boot with two startled Asian fishermen. " where you come from?" I eventually arrived in Orewa where I watched a Busker Festival and ate Chinese Takeaways for dinner.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgap5-WPCyKVbSJ-MC7ajAhmWEid1GLXXgT_5QwZL2IeEc1iqSjDYccrFWB33eZEp87RIktL_W25ohvc8LTU-8BFjw7_yirqt20xAN2OjHPOubkHvZgyZCukry6JRsWglUyci93XBpYo9Ae/s1600/Eric+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgap5-WPCyKVbSJ-MC7ajAhmWEid1GLXXgT_5QwZL2IeEc1iqSjDYccrFWB33eZEp87RIktL_W25ohvc8LTU-8BFjw7_yirqt20xAN2OjHPOubkHvZgyZCukry6JRsWglUyci93XBpYo9Ae/s1600/Eric+069.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Te Horui Bay, Whangaparoa Peninsula</td></tr>
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On Sunday I felt tired, the pack felt heavy and I couldn't get into walking. Consequently I only covered 10km from Orewa to the Wenderholm Regional Park and booked into the camping ground.<br />
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I covered a more respectable 21km on Monday to Warkworth, all on roads. Most of it on State Highway 1.<br />
My room at The Oaks Backpackers in Warkworth was hot and the window would only open a couple of inches, also a couple of other guests kept me awake cooking at 11.15 pm and using the computer, on the other side of the wall from my bed, until 12.30 am.<br />
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On Tuesday Kumal took my pack 10km to Matakana and I collected it from his work later than morning. Jackie stopped 4km down the road to offer a lift and took my pack the last 4km to Whangateau Holiday Park where I set up my tent. I spent the afternoon reading, in the lounge, and on returning to the tent I found that someone had set up a monster sized tent directly in front of it. My little tent looked like a pimple in comparison. The occupant of the bigger tent snored all night.<br />
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Wednesday was another 18km day, all on roads, firstly to Leigh. Traffic became lighter and the road turned to gravel and back to tar seal on the way to Pakiri. Two people stopped to offer rides but as I did not know where I would be stopping I carried my pack all day. Once at Pakiri Beach I hitch hiked into Wellsford, from where Mark Page collected me and I spent 2 nights staying with him and Loma. They are contractors to the company I used to work for and had invited me to stay once I reached their neck of the woods. Or perhaps that should be neck of the bush, as they have 500 acres of regenerating bush. They have no electricity or cell phone coverage. Next day they took me for a walk around and showed me the property. Possums, rats, stoats and weasels are being trapped, goats and pigs shot and neighbors cattle fenced off. Mark has developed a deep love affair with his bulldozer and mower while Loma is infatuated with the weed sprayer! They have an idyllic spot and I felt quite comfortable there, staying in the guest cabin.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cabin on the left is where I stayed. The cabin on the right is Loma and Mark's. </td></tr>
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On Friday 7th February Mark and Loma drove me to Mangawhai Heads where, having established that both backpackers were full, we left my pack at the Motor Camp. They then drove me to Pakiri Beach from where I walked the 27km back to Mangawhai Heads. I had been worried about the depth of the water in a river crossing, at the start of the day, but it only came up to just above my ankles. After 15km of beach I could find no sign to show where to leave the beach and ended up overshooting the turn off. A route through forestry roads brought me back onto the roads to Mangawhai and then Mangawhai Heads. At some point I crossed into Northland, the last geographic region of my walk. It had rained on and off all day and as I set my tent up it began raining and rained on and off until the next morning. Despite it being a large camp there was nowhere to sit out of the rain. There is a kitchen (with notices advising guests not to sit on the benches) but no dining area or lounge.<br />
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During the night I kept waking with what felt like an insect tickling my skin. When I packed my tent away next morning I discovered it had been invaded by ants! The rain stopped as I left camp on Saturday morning.<br />
I met a lady soon after, who inadvertently showed me the wrong path, an hour and a half later I was only .5km away from where I'd started. I then made a silly decision to walk on the road rather than retrace my steps and find the correct track. Later I missed the start of another coastal walkway and continued on the road to Waipu Cove. The tide was high which meant that yet again I had to walk on the road rather than the beach. I stayed at the Waipu Wanderers Backpackers after a 23km day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From above Mangawhai heads looking south.</td></tr>
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It was threatening rain on Sunday 9th February but stayed dry all day. The 20km walk seemed longer. The first 3 km was on roads and the next 5 km was on the beach. More road walking through Ruakaka brought me back to the beach where the tailwind wind blew sand and seed heads racing past. The seed heads were the size of golf balls and had many long spikes sticking out and reminded me of mini tumbleweeds. Expecting to see Clint Eastwood riding past on a mule, I whistled the theme tune to The Good, The Bad & The Ugly!<br />
I left the beach at Marsden Point and walked roads to One Tree Point. My map showed a camp there but apparently it closed down many years ago. Having failed to find any affordable accommodation I hitched into Whangarei where I stayed at the Bunkdown Backpackers.<br />
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Yesterday morning I hitched back to my starting point and walked 31km back into Whangarei. Most of it was on SH1 with lots of fast traffic. Friends had given me contact details for Lisca, who had offered to put me up in Whangarei. She collected the pack and I from the backpackers. She, her daughter Rhianon, Chris (Rhianon's husband) and Chris's daughter Shayla have all made me very welcome. Today I am having a day of rest, updating this blog and restocking my nose bag.<br />
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I feel that the end is in sight and was excited to see my first road sign showing Cape Reinga. It is only 266 km from Whangarei by road but probably nearer to 500 km by my more easterly, coastal route. <br />
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I have now walked over 2000 km in the North Island and a total of 3881 km.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Locals comment on corruption in Northland.</td></tr>
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<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-90981122873294612012014-01-27T16:51:00.000-08:002014-01-29T10:15:25.507-08:00Auckland To WhangaparoaBefore I left Waiheke Island, Diana from the Waiheke Marketplace newspaper interviewed me and took photo's of Jan and I. (An article appeared in the Gulf News that week and in Waiheke Marketplace the next week.) Jan and Mika then took me to the ferry terminal where I caught the ferry to Devonport. Once in Devonport I took a bus to Takapuna and booked into the Motor Camp. There was quite a wind blowing and heavy rain forecast so rather than be in my tent I took the cheapest bed available, $72 for a caravan for the night. After dropping off my pack I caught a bus back to Devonport and walked the 6km back to Takapuna, via North Head, beaches and roads. As it was low tide I managed to walk the final section over rocks and onto Takapuna Beach.<br />
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It rained overnight and the caravan was rocking in the wind, I was glad not to be in my tent. As it was still raining in the morning, and I only had 14km to walk that day, I stayed abed until 7.45am. The rain stopped just after I left at 9.50am. I mostly followed the coastal path but as it was very close to the beach the sea was blowing over the path in places and I had to revert to the streets for some sections.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coastal Path north of Takapuna</td></tr>
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After 1.5km I met Fred walking his dog. As he lives 2km north of where I met him and was about to drive home he agreed to take my pack. When I collected the pack I had a cuppa with Fred before I went on my way. My destination for the day was Long Bay where there is a Regional Park. Unfortunately no camping is allowed in the park but I had been told about and phoned the Sir Peter Blake, Marine Education & Recreation Centre (MERC). Their facility at Long Bay has accommodation for 70 as well as large kitchen and dining facilities. As they had no groups booked for that night they allowed me to stay free of charge. On arrival Lynette, who I had previously spoken to on the phone and who had arranged for me to stay, showed me around. Later I met Paul, the manager, who gave me advice about my route the next day. I had the spacious complex to myself for the night. I am very appreciative of being allowed to stay at this wonderful place, especially since I was an unknown stranger.<br />
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The next day I initially made a wrong turning and ended up in a new housing development and no way through the security fencing. Once heading in the right direction 8km of road walking brought me to the Okura Walkway. This is a 6km walk through wonderful bush. I met many people using the walkway, including Jonathan and his grandson who were checking rat traps.<br />
Once at Stillwater I went to the boat club to see if I could get a ride across the Weiti River. I was gruffly told "no, you'll have to walk". As I walked away I was told to try at the Camping Ground. Backtracking to the camp, I initially found nobody around but eventually found Bruce working on his yacht, he agreed to take me across on his inflatable tender. The hundred yards across the river saved 15km of road walking.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bruce took me across the Weiti River.</td></tr>
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Once on the other side a rough track eventually led me to suburban streets and then to Arkles Bay on the Whangaparoa Peninsula. While walking I met Maureen who was on her way to the shops. She showed me to the bus stop, as luck would have it a bus to Auckland arrived 4 minutes latter. On arrival in Auckland I caught another bus to Hamilton, where I am enjoying a few days with Charissa. I will return north on Friday and resume walking on Saturday.<br />
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Total Km so far = 3682.<br />
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<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-37596800027540791132014-01-16T15:52:00.001-08:002014-01-18T21:59:39.503-08:00Waiheke IslandWhen I first started this adventure I am having, I met Jan on Stewart Island. We walked together for a few days and he told me about his life on Waiheke Island and about a planned 5 day around the island walk. He suggested that once I got this far, to do the walk of the island. Over two years later here I am.<br />
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I crossed over to Waiheke on the ferry on Tuesday 14th January. Jan met me and brought me to his home in Ostend where I met his wife Jackie and daughter Mika. After a cuppa Jackie took us back to Matiatia (where the ferry comes in) and Jan and I walked 15km back to his home. The coastal route took us mostly along tracks but also along beaches and across rocky headlands. As we walked we talked about our lives over the past two years.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jan on beautiful Waiheke Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me in same spot</td></tr>
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On Wednesday I walked another 18km via tracks and roads to Rocky Bay. Then more tracks towards Awaawaroa Bay. At one point I took a wrong turn and ended up trying to bush crash through gorse and bush lawyer before turning back and finding the right track. There were some very steep sections. I stopped at a cafe and bought a cuppa and while there dropped my water bottle. The bottom cracked and leaked water, so I had to carry it upside down for the rest of the day. Whenever I took a drink, water would dribble out of the bottom. Later I stopped to ask two ladies, working in a vineyard garden, if I could refill my bottle from the garden tap. It was a hot day and they asked if I'd walked down the hill. I told them I was about to go up it. "Your bloody mad" was the response. I then found out why, the hill was very steep indeed.<br />
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On Thursday morning Jan ran me to the other side of Onetangi and I hitched to my start point. My 24km for the day consisted of mainly quiet roads. A side road leads off to Stoney Batter where there are large tunnels from a WW2 gun emplacement. I got a ride with the local mailman the 2km to the end of the road then walked the final km. I was the first customer of the day and when the custodian went to unlock the gate into the tunnels she found she did not have the key. There then ensued a Dad's Army scenario of me assisting her to find an angle grinder, then a power cord and working out how to operate the generator. Once we got the generator going, the grinder needed to be assembled. Finally when we had everything together and operating she cut the lock off. Once inside the tunnels they were very impressive. Quite wide with long stairways and totalling over 1km in length. Later more road walking and then 2km along a nice bush walk brought me to Onetangi Beach. Finally 4km of road walking brought me to Jan & Jackies.<br />
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While here I am sleeping in a 2 bedroom cottage in front of their house which they recently had moved onto the property and are doing up. Meals are taken with them and Ive told them I might not want to leave!<br />
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Friday was a day off from walking and I updated this blog, did some shopping and blobbed. On Saturday Jan and I took part in the 25km Wharf 2 Wharf run and race. Jackie dropped us off at Matiatia and we caught the ferry to Orapiu, put on specially for the race. Jan ran it in 2hrs 22mins while I took a more leisurely 3hr 59mins to walk it. Near the end I walked past Peter Leitch's (The Mad Butcher) home and as I did so he came around the corner, shook my hand and said "good on you mate, your going well, your nearly there". After the race Jackie picked us up and Jan and I had Fish N Chips.<br />
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This morning, Sunday, Jan accompanied me from Onetangi to Oneroa along roads, walkways and beaches (including one nudist beach). He gave me a commentary on the various areas and where he has been involved with establishing the walkways and the graphics his company, Snapper Graphics, has produced for them. At Oneroa we had a cuppa and Jan went home and I was joined by Gary, Chris and their son Connor as well as Buster the dog. Gary is the Auckland City, Parks and Recreation Officer for Waiheke and Great Barrier Islands. As we walked to Matiatia he told me of the history of the areas we passed and of the problems encountered in establishing and maintaining the various walkways. He is very passionate about his job and quizzed me about my experiences and thoughts while walking the island. Once we arrived at Matiatia there was a frantic search for Buster the dog, who had gone missing. After much calling and whistling he was finally spotted racing down the beach towards us half a km away. Gary then drove me home.<br />
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Todays walk completed my circular walk of the island. I have enjoyed stunning views, lovely walks, steep hills and great hospitality over the past week. The around Waiheke walk is not yet signposted or advertised as such but I can recommend it to anyone looking for a scenic, if at times somewhat challenging, walk close to Auckland.<br />
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<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-57105618219903581262014-01-16T14:33:00.000-08:002014-01-18T21:24:40.483-08:00Thames to Auckland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been awhile since I last posted, so a lot to report, but will try to be succinct. After 3 weeks off from walking over Xmas and New Year, I resumed from Thames on Monday 6th January. Due to Xmas eating I was 4kg heavier! Charissa and I drove to Miranda Holiday Park on the Hauraki Coast where we dropped my pack & then drove to Thames. I then walked the 28km to Miranda. The first 5km to Kopu was along the Hauraki Rail Trail. The next 17km was alongside the main road, long and flat. Convoys of cars doing 100km zoomed past in both directions. I noticed an older camper van parked across a driveway with its rear end partially sticking out into the roadway. Cars were having to drive around it. As I drew level I startled a very old man leaning over the fence cutting bamboo. He asked if I was the owner of the property as he wanted to get permission to cut bamboo stakes. As his camper van was already full, back and front, I thought it a bit late to be asking permission. At my suggestion he moved his van further off the road. The final 6km was up the Front Miranda road, with less traffic, to the Holiday Park. I stayed in my tent and that night I soaked in their hot thermal pool. <br />
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I was away before 7am on Tuesday morning, the first 3km on the road and then 2km along the Miranda Bird Hide Track. Later I walked along a beach where about 20 camper vans had parked overnight. Trish and John, retired farmers from Cambridge, invited me into their van for a welcome cuppa. Shortly after leaving them, and on the road again, I met Allan walking in the opposite direction. He had walked 4km to Kaiaua to buy a paper . He crossed the road to talk. Later, after reading my blog, he sent me an encouraging email. Once in Kaiaua I bought what food supplies I could from the local dairy. The night before I'd realised that I had left half my food in Charissa's car. After walking 20km for the day I found a basic camping ground and pitched my tent again.<br />
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Wednesday was a short day of 15km, all on roads, to Orere Point Holiday Park where I was in my tent again. <br />
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The 25km to Clevedon on Thursday was a mixture of beach and road. The first 9km along sandy beaches and rocky headlands to Kawakawa Bay. Stephanie the manager of the Holiday Park took my pack into Clevedon and left it at the Presbyterian Church. When I called to collect it Anne Marie gave me tea and biscuits. I then hitched to the Twilight B& B, the only accommodation I could find in the area. Jill the owner made me welcome and gave me fruit and eggs.<br />
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On Friday I hitched back to Clevedon and walked to Maraetai. The first 11km was along the main road but traffic quite light. The final 4km was along the beach. I stayed with friends Diane and Andy at Maraetai that night. They had left the key out for me. After dropping my pack I then used coastal paths to walk past Omana Beach & Beachlands to Pine Harbour. This final 8km brought the days total to 23km. Then walked another 6km back to where I was staying. That evening I joined Diane and Andy in playing social bowls and a couple of beers followed by dinner of sausages and salad. I had not seen my hosts for a number of years so later, over generous measures of rum, we caught up on each others adventures. Since last meeting them they had spent a few years in the UK where they bought a boat and sailed around Europe. After soaking in their spa I finally got to bed about midnight. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends Andy & Diane at Maraetai</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I stayed in the unit at Diane & Andys place.</td></tr>
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Saturday was another 25km day. After a substantial breakfast Andy dropped me at my start point about 8.30am and Diane later gave me a toot as she drove past on her way to work. After walking on the main road for 4km I then took side roads for the next 6km past lifestyle blocks, many of them with expensive houses on them. Another 2km on the main road brought me to Whitworth. A short walkway, side roads, main road and 7km of Coastal walkway took me to Melons Bay. Diane had dropped my pack off at my destination for that night. This was a 4km walk from Melons Bay to Botany Downs. Julie is a friend of Charissa and although I'd never met her before she made me very welcome.<br />
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Just 8km was my total for Sunday. Julie served me a large breakfast and then we took my pack to the Half Moon Bay ferry terminal. She then took me to my start point and I walked back to the ferry terminal. After lunch I caught the ferry into Auckland and booked into a backpackers in Queen St.<br />
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Monday 13th was a big day of 28km. I caught the ferry back to Half Moon Bay and walked back into Auckland. The route consisted of a mixture of suburban streets, walkways and coastal paths. The Rotary Shared Path is 9km long and a wide concrete path which hugs the coast and great walking. You hardly know you are walking in New Zealand's biggest city.<br />
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Total distance walked since start is 3553km, with 1799 of this in the North Island. Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-26229166184349788582013-12-18T17:08:00.001-08:002013-12-19T12:41:29.299-08:00Coromandel Peninsula<br />
On Monday 9th December I caught the Intercity bus to Coromandel then hitched to Te Rerenga. I stayed at the Waikawau Bay Motor Camp again. Next morning I was up early and away at 6.30am. The first 2km was along SH25 then 5km along a forestry road. Glenn from Earnslaw One had previously given me permission to walk on their road and given very explicit instructions about where to turn off the road onto an old track. At the turn off point I found a log with my name and an arrow painted on it, showing me the way.<br />
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The first half a km of the track was through gorse and I nearly gave up. However persistence paid off and eventually I was able to follow the overgrown track reasonably well. It took me 2 hours to walk the 4km. Eventually the track came out onto the Kennnedy Bay Rd. I only saw 3 vehicles going my way in the next 3 hours. Thinking I was 7kms from my destination I hitched a ride with the 3rd vehicle only to find I was just 2km from the camp. After setting up my tent I got a ride back with the same people and walked the final 2km. Total for the day was 29km.<br />
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For the next 3 nights I stayed in my tent at DOC camps. The first night was at Waikawau Bay where the staff were very helpful. They arranged for Tim the local Rural Delivery mailman to take my pack on to Sandy Bay the next day. I was walking at 6.30am again and arrived, 18km later, at Sandy Bay at 9.50am. On the way I passed through Port Charles. Tim arrived at 12.20pm with my pack and I walked the final 7km to Stony Bay.<br />
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Thursday was a perfect days walking. The first 9 km was along the Coromandel Walkway, mostly through bush, with the last 2 km across farmland. There were great views across to Great Barrier Island. I was away at 6.15am and saw nobody until I arrived at the DOC camp at Fletcher Bay.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down on DOC camp at Fletcher Bay</td></tr>
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Two German tourists agreed to take my pack 6 km onto the next camp at Port Jackson. I walked up the road for 3km and then turned off onto the Muriwai Walk. This is a grass track with a drop to the sea on one side and farmland on the other. It reminded me of coastal walks in the UK. That was until I came to a view of Port Jackson and its long sandy beach, then I knew I wasn't in the UK!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port Jackson from Muriwai Walk</td></tr>
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Friday 13th was a long day, in the heat, all on roads. The first 3km was uphill then most of the next 28km alongside the coast. Tama stopped to offer me a ride about half way. He agreed to drop my pack at the Colville Store. I stayed that night in a backpackers 2km south of Colville where the only other guests were a French couple. Their English not much better than my French but they went into my blog on their tablet and used software to translate it into French.<br />
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On Saturday I walked the 2km back to Colville then took a back road, a track and then the main road to Coromandel. About 9km from Coromandel I met a German guy walking and heading for where I had stayed the night before. It is unusual for me to meet other walkers and even more so to find someone doing the same walk as me in reverse! I stayed in another backpackers that night after a 27km day. A long hot day with my big pack. I met some people from Hamilton who agreed to take my pack to Tapu the next day.<br />
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I slept in on Sunday morning and didn't get up until 5.20am but was still away at 6.15am. Shortly after leaving Coromandel I came across the survivors of an all night party, sitting drinking around the remains of a fire. There was rubbish strewn all over the place including the side of the road. As I was walking on the main road I was wearing a Hi Vis vest. The party goers must have thought I was someone in authority come to chastise them. When I called out a greeting they told me "don't worry about the rubbish bro, we'll clean it up"!<br />
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Later I walked through Manaia, I wondered if the inhabitants were referred to as Manaiacs?<br />
I asked for a backpackers room at the Tapu Motor Camp and was given a cabin with a double bed for $15. I've paid more for a tent site in other places. As there was a pub over the road I shouted myself a pub meal that night as I'd walked 35km that day. The camp manager agreed to take my pack into Thames the next day.<br />
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The final 23km to Thames was once again mostly on the road, fairly narrow in places and I had to have my wits about me. Once at Thames I followed the stop-banks for 1km and then the Coastal Walkway for 2km. After collecting my pack I hitch hiked to Hamilton. My 4th and final ride for the day turned out to be someone I'd worked with and Mike took me right to my door.<br />
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I will resume walking in the New Year from Thames towards Auckland. I wish everyone a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. See you all here in January.<br />
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Total kms walked to date = 1627 North Island and 3380 in total.<br />
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<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-6996880137026070812013-12-07T14:21:00.001-08:002013-12-08T12:34:04.319-08:00Santa's Little Helper <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaylah and I at Opoutere School</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at Pauanui from Paku </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends Jo & Peter</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mangroves at Whangapoua</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Chums Beach on a rainy day</td></tr>
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On Sunday 24th November Charissa drove me back to Waihi Beach and we stayed in the lovely holiday home of Ange Annas, an ex colleague. I walked 9km on the beach from Bowentown to the end of Waihi Beach. From there a track goes overland to Golden Valley. However there was a sign saying the track is closed due to storm damage. Therefore Monday's 34 km was all on roads. Perhaps due to the 25c heat, two people stopped in the afternoon to offer me rides. My grandson Cory drove out from Whanagamata to collect me and I spent the next 3 nights staying with my son and daughter in law, Adam & Adele, and my grandchildren, Cory, Hadyn & Kaylah. Later Adam drove me back to Waihi Beach and we collected my pack.<br />
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On Tuesday I gave a talk to the pupils (including Kaylah) of Opoutere School. They all seemed interested in what I am doing and if Rae, the Principal, hadn't called time then I think the questions would still be coming. Later that afternoon I completed another 8km from where Cory had picked me up, to the northern outskirts of Whangamata. That afternoon Kaylah slipped off the wet deck at school, sprained her wrist and had her arm in a sling.<br />
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It was an early start on Wednesday as Adam dropped me off at my start point at 6am. Just after 7.30am I had done 10km and called in and had a cup of tea with Rae at Opoutere School. Another 7km of back country road brought me to a forestry road. I had been given permission to walk the 5km through to the Hikuia - Pauanui Rd. I saw no one as I walked through mature pine trees. I left them undisturbed, quietly growing. It was overcast all day, which kept the temperatures down, but didn't actually rain. I had an ice cream at Hikuai, after 28km in 6.5 hours, then hitched back to Whangamata.<br />
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Another 6am start on Thursday meant that I had completed the 12km to Tairua by 8am. At the local dairy I picked up copies of the Coastal News which featured Kaylah and myself on the front page. I stayed at the holiday home of friends, Jo & Peter, in Tairua for 2 nights. Adam delivered my pack that night. Charissa came through on Thursday night and Jo & Peter on Friday. It was nice to be able to socalise with friends and family, after a days walking, for a change.<br />
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On Friday I climbed the local hill, Paku, walked the beach and then on SH25 to Whenuakite, a total of 15km, before hitching back to Tairua.<br />
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It was another early start on Saturday as Jo & Peter drove my pack and myself to Whitianga, where they had arranged accommodation for me with their friends. Shirley and Chris were away but had made a bed up for me in the unit in front of their home. After dropping my pack off they then dropped me at Whenuakite. 22km later I arrived at Ferry Landing, having walked along roads towards Hot Water Beach & Hahei, without actually going to either. I caught the ferry to Whitianga after climbing Shakespears Cliff.<br />
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Sunday was spent reading and resting. On Monday I became Santa's Little Helper. The first 2km were mostly along the beach and then on SH25. Out of Simpsons Beach Sara stopped to offer me a ride, she agreed to take my pack to Black Jacks Backpackers in Kuaotuna, my destination for the day. A few km's later I stopped to pick up some Xmas presents which had been partially opened and discarded. I put these in pack day pack and continued walking. Over the next 5km I picked up ten or so Xmas presents.<br />
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Carl and Carol made me welcome at the backpackers and Carl agreed to take the Xmas presents into the police station next time they went to town. I felt sure they were the result of a burglary. As some of them were obviously intended for kids I was keen for them to be reunited with their named recipients.<br />
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The next day Carol was heading to Auckland and agreed to drop my pack at a cafe, near where I was hoping to stay that night. The first 3km was along beaches at Kuaotuna where I was thrilled to see two tiny Dottrell chicks. I have been on many beaches with signs saying how rare these birds are. In fact I think I must have seen most of the total 1700 population between here and Stewart Island. This was the first time I'd seen chicks. A narrow metal road then brought me to Matarangi and another 4km of sandy beach. At the end of the spit there was a track around the golf course and then through the subdivisions to a cafe, where I stopped for a cuppa and cake. <br />
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As I walked over a wide grass verge on the way out of Matarangi a car drove over the grass and stopped alongside me. The driver was wearing a name badge. Initially I thought that I had transgressed some local bylaw and that this was a vigilante come to run me out of town. This was far from the case as Puk is the local shopkeeper and the owner of the Xmas presents I had picked up the day before. Carl had recognized the names on the gift tags, phoned Puk who had gone to collect. He then set out to track me down to thank me. On learning where my pack had been taken, he phoned the cafe owner to arrange lunch at his expense. The good news is that the burglars had been apprehended, with the booty from Puk's and 2 other burglaries.<br />
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Another 9km later I enjoyed a lovely lunch at Castle Rock cafe then booked into the Whangapoua Holiday Park. Suzanne & Aaron have refurbished an old Forestry Camp and have reopened it as a Holiday Park. They generously allowed me to have two nights for the price of one.<br />
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Rain was forecast for Wednesday but I took a chance and walked to Whangapoua, then over a river and along a track to New Chums beach. This a a world renown beach for which access is only via the track or by boat. It was raining by the time I got there so after walking the length of the beach I returned to Whangapoua from where the local postie, Kevin gave a ride back to the camp.<br />
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It rained all day Thursday so I stayed put and read. As further rain was forecast until Monday I returned to Hamilton for a few days. The plan is to return on Monday and start walking on Tuesday. I will be in my tent for a few nights as I walk around the top of the Coromandel Peninsula.<br />
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Total km walked to date = 3220<br />
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<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-91037045426424315052013-11-20T20:33:00.000-08:002013-11-21T18:09:53.607-08:00Whakatane to Waihi Beach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">11 & 12 yr olds at Thornton School asked some good questions</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keita & photo of Tyrese</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Allan rowed me across the estuary from Pukehina to Little Waihi</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlooking Mt Maunganaui from "The Mount"</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>The best laid plans of mice and men, as they say, never run smooth. My planned two day break in Whakatane turned into 3 days, due to bad weather. Then, once I did restart, my planned walk to Matata was cut short at Thornton, once again due to bad weather.<br />
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Rebekah from LIC had taken my pack on to the Motor Camp at Matata. However she collected me at lunchtime and took me to Thornton School where I gave an impromptu talk to the 30 or so 11 and 12 year old's. Phil the teacher put my blog up on the screen and I spoke to the photos.<br />
The pupils all seemed to be interested in my walk and asked some good questions. Phil drove me to the camp after school.<br />
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The next day I returned to Hamilton for a couple of days then restarted from Thornton and walked to Matata and on to Pikowai on Tuesday 12th November. This day was all on the beach, except for a side trip to the shops at Matata. The shopkeeper advised me I was on the front page of the Whakatane Beacon that morning. That night I set my tent up at the Pikowai Camping Ground and while there received a text from a lady who wanted to take my photo for her nephew. Keita and Julz visited me. Keita's nephew Tyrese (9) is in hospital with leukaemia. In order to allow him to focus on things outside his hospital room she has had dozens of his photos taken overseas, the people then have had their photos taken holding up Tyrese's photo, alongside famous sights. We had our photo taken holding up a photo of Tyrese.<br />
Check it out on Keita Wharewera's Facebook page. <br />
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After a poor nights sleep in the tent (the camp is alongside both the railway and the main road, with both in use throughout the night) I spent Wednesday walking along the beach to Pukehina. On the way there were several streams and rivers to cross. One river looked too swift to cross safely so backtracked to a private camp and spoke to two men feeding bread to about 20 eels. They gave me directions to cross the river via a railway bridge.<br />
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On arrival at Pukehina, after just 14km for the day, I stopped to ask directions to the camp from Rex and Pat Cameron. They invited me back later for a meal and that evening I joined Pat and another 10 locals to play indoor bowls. Pat and Rex are ex dairy farmers from Tokoroa. They arranged for their friend Allan to row me across to Little Waihi next morning.<br />
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Thursday's 35km was one of the longest days walking of my trip so far. Leaving the Pukehina camp at 7.15am I walked 5km to the end of the spit and was met there by Allan, with the boat, and Rex and Pat who brought my pack. Allan quickly rowed me across and I then walked up Newdicks Beach and on to Maketu. I spent some time in Maketu trying to arrange a boat to take me across the Kaituna River. The lady at the local shop was very helpful as was Shane at the Motor Camp. The lady at the Maketu I Site was very unhelpful! Eventually I walked the 7.5km up side roads to the Kaituna River. The second boat I hailed gave me a ride across. It was good easy walking from there, on hard sand, to Papamoa. On the way I met two fishermen Eric & Peter they agreed to take my pack 2km down the beach on their quad bike. I was collected from Papamoa by my friends Pat & Pauline at 6pm.<br />
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Another friend of Pat & Pauline's, Hans, dropped me off at Papamoa the next day. After stopping for tea and cake at Mount Maunganui I walked up and over the Mount, then over the Tauranga Habour Bridge and to the CBD. Pat and Pauline picked me up from there after 22km for the day. As they were going away, I had the use of their house for the weekend.<br />
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On Saturday I caught a bus into the CBD and resumed walking from there. Initially through streets to Otumoeti and then by a coastal footpath, foreshore, boardwalks and roads again to Te Puna. After 21km, I hitched back to Tauranga.<br />
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Sunday was a slow start as I had to get two buses, including nearly an hours wait for the second bus. The second bus dropped me at Bethlehem from where I hitched to Katikati, left my pack at the backpackers then hitched back to Te Puna. It was 11.30am before I finally started walking. Apart from one 1.5km stretch and the final 4km the 24km to Katikati was all on the main road with lots of traffic. Once I'd cleaned up at the backpackers an old work colleague, Mandy, and her husband John visited me and brought me a a bag of fruit. They were driving to Christchurch early the next day so didn't stop long. The backpackers was full of young tourists who have seasonal work in the kiwifruit orchards and the small kitchen was a hive of activity.<br />
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I made it to Waihi Beach in the heat on Monday after 21km, mostly on the main road. Although 6km was on side roads, where I saw many kiwifruit and avocado plantations. I even saw an emu!<br />
At Athenree I turned off the main road and walked the final 4km to Waihi Beach. That afternoon Charissa picked me up and we returned to Hamilton. Yesterday I had a small operation and will return to Waihi Beach and the Coromandel Peninsula on Sunday.<br />
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<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-78635667785417203972013-11-04T13:58:00.000-08:002013-11-04T15:13:47.920-08:00Whakatane & White Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXG4L7zdJEp6s9zY6bS-xpMxwsCjF6NpdWIN9zQ1JmuHRltVVDYIXA5z_R8kH-HupH_sZSqGRU7bLg4NgosG-DECrqurFrVm9wn1ArOz7-YVFwlRMOVVQ5_3P5pcUUPzYWcOWj5g-ByFfE/s1600/DSCF1484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXG4L7zdJEp6s9zY6bS-xpMxwsCjF6NpdWIN9zQ1JmuHRltVVDYIXA5z_R8kH-HupH_sZSqGRU7bLg4NgosG-DECrqurFrVm9wn1ArOz7-YVFwlRMOVVQ5_3P5pcUUPzYWcOWj5g-ByFfE/s640/DSCF1484.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On White Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boiling mud & sulphur</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISV7-dRhwvccYI9Wih9Yfm8HI0CuszMiz5WnkUR1yhFqot9Wtral8nT7MR5a8iWKBohHnSmsRLJmhhLPhJENA1wQaJ_LKekJTnUdwF12q2FyQC6sVAjeCvIqvp8My8VueYql5VRDMVYeu/s1600/DSCF1531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISV7-dRhwvccYI9Wih9Yfm8HI0CuszMiz5WnkUR1yhFqot9Wtral8nT7MR5a8iWKBohHnSmsRLJmhhLPhJENA1wQaJ_LKekJTnUdwF12q2FyQC6sVAjeCvIqvp8My8VueYql5VRDMVYeu/s640/DSCF1531.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abandoned factory White Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdj3iLFLoQjkRrJSz2RcjPfNo89ZeqTOjif2QoJOoF-z_lJqt_cPmx7PaQYKsqyIngRC7NGBODa3wu8fba-db-VIi-1eGUHG_Aga0E_oB5NV-6Q-MHJoEVJOtyxK-JixFMtJzyMK6DpfP/s1600/DSCF1539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdj3iLFLoQjkRrJSz2RcjPfNo89ZeqTOjif2QoJOoF-z_lJqt_cPmx7PaQYKsqyIngRC7NGBODa3wu8fba-db-VIi-1eGUHG_Aga0E_oB5NV-6Q-MHJoEVJOtyxK-JixFMtJzyMK6DpfP/s640/DSCF1539.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Island from boat Pee Jay IV</td></tr>
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I left Opotiki last Friday, my friend Gavin drove me to the museum and then Len drove me to Ohiwa Bay, where I booked into a cabin at the Top 10 Holiday Park. Len then drove me back to Opotiki and I walked the 11km back to Ohiwa. The first 3 km was on the road with the remainder on the beach. I was not sure if I could wade across the Waiotahi River but after talking with some people collecting Pipi's, I crossed with the water coming up to my waist. <br />
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My destination on Saturday was Ohope, just half a km across the water, however there being no boat available to take me across, it was a 30km walk along the roads. At Cheddar Valley there is a 2km nature walk through a salt marsh. I stayed in my tent at the Ohope Top 10 Holiday Park. My pack was taken from Ohiwa to Ohope for me by a fellow camper. <br />
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On Sunday I walked to the end of Ohope Beach then walked back to the camp. Chelsea who lives in Whakatane and works at the camp agreed to take my pack into Whakatane at the end of the day. The days total was 16km, 11km along the beach and then up and over the Kohi Point Walkway.<br />
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I am staying in a backpackers room at the Whakatane Hotel for 3 nights. Yesterday was a little special for me. Pee Jays White Island Tours sponsored me with a free trip to White Island. It was a beautiful day and the sea was flat for the 2 hour trip out to the island 49km's away. Once there we were transferred, 10 at a time to the wharf by rubber dingy. We had been issued with hard hats and gas masks in case the active volcano erupted while on the island. Our guides took us on a 1.5 hour tour of the island and showed us sulphur deposits, boiling mud pools and the crater lake. Sulphur used to be mined here and there is the remains of a factory, abandoned in the 1930's. A great day out and something unique, visiting an active volcano on an offshore island. <br />
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Today I am having a day off (yes another one!) and catching up with some chores. tomorrow I head up the coast towards Matata, then Tauranga.<br />
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Total km's walked to date 2888km - 1145 North Island.<br />
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<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-20275535425015085472013-10-30T14:37:00.004-07:002013-11-04T15:05:09.430-08:00Barefoot to Opotiki <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abandoned road near Hawai</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cycle/Walkway Bridge Opotiki</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On outskirts of Opotiki</td></tr>
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On Tuesday 22nd October I caught a bus to Opotiki, where I stayed with my friend Gavin. On Wednesday morning I was interviewed by the Opotiki News and then hitchhiked to Te Araroa.<br />
I booked into the Te Araoa Camp Ground and stayed in a caravan for the night.<br />
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Thursday was a 29km walk, all on roads, past Hicks Bay and Pataka before hitching to Waihau Bay. About lunch time I spoke to Don who was doing some renovations on his house. While refilling my water bottle he told me a little about his life. He moved back here from Hamilton two years ago and in that time has not travelled further afield than Ruatoria, about 60km away!<br />
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The Waihou Bay Motor Camp is officially closed but a couple of long term residents advised me that nobody owned one of the caravans on site, on finding it clean and tidy I moved into that for two nights. On Friday I hitched back to where I had been picked up from the day before and walked the 20km back. Once again it was all on SH35 except for a 2km stretch of beach. On the way I passed from the East Coast region to the Bay Of Plenty.<br />
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The first one km on Saturday was along the beach then back to SH35. As I passed a house in Waihou Bay a lady called out "Good on you" and started to clap. Presumably she had read the Opotiki News article. I thankfully had my pack taken on for the last 5km of the 23km for the day. I stayed at the Maraehako Backpackers. This is in a fabulous location, built right on the rocks alongside the ocean.<br />
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Sunday was an easy 15km walk to Te Kaha, made even easier by having my pack taken the whole way. There being no beds available at the Te Kaha Camping Grounds I pitched my tent for the first time for awhile.<br />
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There was lots of traffic on the road on Monday due to it being a public holiday. An hour out of Te Kaha I was invited in for a cup of tea by Martin & Marina who had just read about me. Their guests Vic & Barbara were heading home later that day and readily agreed to take my pack. Later I met them at the Motu River bridge and they gave me a ride to Hawai where I stayed in a backpackers room at the Motor Camp. The 27km for the day were once again all on SH35.<br />
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The first car I stuck my thumb out to on Tuesday morning took me back to the Motu River Bridge and I walked the 13km back to Hawai. After collecting my pack I then walked another 14km to Opape. I stayed at the small Opape Motor Camp. Beryl & Kevin and their son Perry gave me a cabin free of charge as Perry had read about me. Before I moved into the cabin they had to evict the current tenants, a mother cat and two young kittens.<br />
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Yesterday was an easy 15km, all on the beach, to Opotiki. After 2km I removed my boots to cross a stream and never put them back on until I left the beach 10km later. It was a beautiful day, I was off the road at last and walking in bare feet. It felt like I was on holiday! Once again Gavin welcomed me to his home.<br />
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Im having a rest day today and catching up with a few chores. tomorrow I head for Whakatane which<br />
should take about 3 days to reach.Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-45419011067654221702013-10-12T21:58:00.000-07:002013-10-13T02:21:41.751-07:00East Cape Escapades<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzqP3YTSMbGLD3wbhOsM2B7C2XDyfpm6wOMuPC-DgQxpC12WnM6s_8_D1vSJ-IUHKeCg-Ox82d1ecOJzdCiPVkjQexxeVlvTh1LPW2W4M00meZDk5kb_GyNV9UbAxCAFcsfztQNu5FPsi/s1600/DSCF1377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzqP3YTSMbGLD3wbhOsM2B7C2XDyfpm6wOMuPC-DgQxpC12WnM6s_8_D1vSJ-IUHKeCg-Ox82d1ecOJzdCiPVkjQexxeVlvTh1LPW2W4M00meZDk5kb_GyNV9UbAxCAFcsfztQNu5FPsi/s320/DSCF1377.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On outskirts of Gisborne</td></tr>
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On Tuesday 1st October I left Gisborne along State Highway 35. The previous day I had been interviewed for an article in the Gisborne Herald. Before leaving on Tuesday I met Paul, their photographer, who took shots of me leaving Gisborne over the main river bridge. The article appeared in that afternoons edition. Of all the papers I have been in this was to prove to be the most helpful. Every second person I met over the next week had read the article and this resulted in offers of accommodation, my pack being taken on for me and other kindnesses.<br />
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The first 3.5km was along the main road. Once at Wainui I was on the beach and nice hard sand for the next 3.5 km. There is a nice gravel path up and over the headland to Makorori and another beach for 2km. Another 2km on the main road brought me to Tatpouri. I was told about a backpackers and although it was closed and usually only took bus parties I was allowed to stay. I'd walked just 13km that day and had a 21 bed backpackers all to myself.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wainui Beach North of Gisborne</td></tr>
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Wednesday was a fine hot day and I was soon down to wearing shirt and shorts. The first 5km was mostly along the beach. The next 18km were all alongside SH35 and I counted over 200 logging trucks between 7.50am and 2pm. Apart from being buzzed by magpies on two different occasions, nothing of note happened.<br />
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About 2pm a car stopped a long way past me, and on catching up to them I was offererd a bed for the night at Anaura Bay. As the car was already full I would have to get myself there. At that stage I was only vaguely aware of where Anaura Bay is but gratefully accepted the offer. One of two Canadian WWOOF's in the car had just read about me in the paper and this prompted their host Judy, to stop and offer me a bed. More about this remarkable lady later.<br />
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I stuck my thumb out to the next car that came along and was given a ride to Tolaga Bay. Jackie the driver, who originally came from Anaura Bay (and had also read about me in the paper) then drove me 18km out of her way to Judy's place.<br />
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Judy, her 3 grandchildren and the 2 WWOOF's all made me welcome and on Thursday morning Judy drove me back to the main road where I hitched a lift back to where I'd been picked up from the previous day. I walked 13km into Tolaga Bay,with another 4km side trip to visit and walk along the Tolaga Bay Wharf. While on the 600m wharf I was once again recognized from the newspaper article and later also in one of the shops. Finally walked 14km from Tolaga Bay to the Anaura Bay turnoff where I was able to hitch a ride back to Judy's place.<br />
At 33km this was one of my bigger distances but made easier by not having my 26kg pack to carry.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tolaga Bay Wharf</td></tr>
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I had a day off from walking on Friday and spent the day weeding the path from the house to the beach. During the three nights I spent at Judy's place I got to know a little of her life. Aged 74 and suffering from Lymphoma, she had arrived back in NZ, from a 6 weeks European trip, the night before she picked me up. She spent that first night in Gisborne before collecting her three grandsons and the two WWOOFers and heading home. Already with a house full she then offered to put me up as well. On arriving home she found that someone had left her freezer door open and all her meat and berries had to be discarded and buried. The water intake from the local stream had blocked, the washing machine not working and the pantry over run with ants!! She took all this in her stride and would have to be one of the most resilient people I've met.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTU7laT9CqZ6AG2VMyvsk8Alcg8Ty0kTn4Y_Cm9iXIfj8uQu_vwo2IyZ2o1-7dJ5kaXn2bxP6FB4l-Gp4nLvgiAitoEDs4MXOZH1XILcvD5kVcn6CicKHGB9Qahoxm-D9QC9Qi7MFaET5/s1600/DSCF1391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTU7laT9CqZ6AG2VMyvsk8Alcg8Ty0kTn4Y_Cm9iXIfj8uQu_vwo2IyZ2o1-7dJ5kaXn2bxP6FB4l-Gp4nLvgiAitoEDs4MXOZH1XILcvD5kVcn6CicKHGB9Qahoxm-D9QC9Qi7MFaET5/s640/DSCF1391.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judy and grandsons</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anaura Bay one of my favorite spots</td></tr>
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I was off again on Saturday morning and Judy once again ran me to the main road for a 23km walk to Tokomaru Bay. Only 3km up the road I spoke to Joe who was up a ladder fixing the power supply to a house. He offered me a lift but agreed to take just my pack, which he left at the Tokomaru Bay Motor camp. Apart from speaking to a couple of Stop/Go men at roadworks it was a fairly ordinary road walk. On uplifting my pack I booked into a cabin at the Motor Camp. The cabin was clean and tidy but the rest of the camp is a dump!!<br />
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That night I received a phone call from a local who wanted to meet me. Jill had relocated an old schoolhouse to just outside Tokomaru Bay in the 1980's. The only road into it is over a long steep hill and it's easier to walk across a river and walk into town. So in the dark Jill forded the river and walked the 1.5km to meet me. She later took me to visit her friend Woody who had been looking after a Backpackers. That day new owners had taken over and given Woody instructions that, if I turned up, to give me free accommodation.<br />
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The next day I met the new owners Angus and Leeann who had renamed the backpackers "Lost In Paradise". I spent two nights there, the view is fabulous and in contrast to the Motor Camp everything is spotless and organized. As it turned out we had met before, quite some months ago when we were all staying at the Waimarama Motor Camp.<br />
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Sunday was another day of walking on roads, firstly 12km up SH35 to Te Puia Springs then 6km by a back road to Waipiro Bay. I found a wallet lying in the grass alongside the road, it had no money in it but a number of credit cards etc. I assumed that it had been stolen, the money removed and discarded. I left it on a wall alongside the next mail box. I had lunch at Waipiro Bay then took another back road 8km back to SH35. Once there I texted Woody who came and collected me and took me back to "Paradise". <br />
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That morning, on the way out of town, I had visited Jill in her old schoolhouse. After fording the river I found her place and had a cuppa with her. A friend of hers is building a 70 tonne boat on her property. Initially he thought it would take him 3 years to build. The good news is that he expects to launch it next year .......... 25years later!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqGn26Zcr5CcxU3BTRFkfdmycNqwOCIekBcoawsKEkDj6Taw3374TCgMp_bMQ0eIbybLiDduYCDx3fE-Fs3KKora__81HoszLEFX0eqMxduJCtHq07Tqo3KofgfEnslyMauzue7sEHbw4/s1600/DSCF1401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqGn26Zcr5CcxU3BTRFkfdmycNqwOCIekBcoawsKEkDj6Taw3374TCgMp_bMQ0eIbybLiDduYCDx3fE-Fs3KKora__81HoszLEFX0eqMxduJCtHq07Tqo3KofgfEnslyMauzue7sEHbw4/s640/DSCF1401.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It has taken 25 years to build this boat</td></tr>
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I had a lazy day at "Lost In Paradise" on Monday and hitched a ride on Tuesday to where I'd left off on Sunday. I was picked up by Karen. a local teacher, who took me 12km out of her way. I headed up SH35 towards Ruatoria. Karen had told me about a backpackers at Ruatoria which I had not heard of. After 7km I was offered a ride by Judy, another teacher. As she was going into Ruatoria and then coming back the same way she agreed to drive me to the backpackers so that I could drop off my pack and then bring me back. The backpackers turned out to be an expensive Guesthouse. Once I'd picked myself up off the floor after being told the tariff I asked if I could pitch my tent. That was not possible but Leigh had read about me and gave me a room at half price " because of what your doing". Judy then took me back to where she had picked me up from. When I said I was surprised by the number of women who pick me up she told me that she had "prayed to god that you are a nice person"!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilit5rEaClyzEDFhz3AxAnnedfZbtui3GsMXJY95u24p6JI2xekPi4cZ5aEkAqBLKVVrOQ73iu4-AFBWvu73UXRkL3XqcNFWEPWz2edkgAC8lPw2K2xGU8NZxHROYY9pyCzYZ5UzhXqkNm/s1600/DSCF1402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilit5rEaClyzEDFhz3AxAnnedfZbtui3GsMXJY95u24p6JI2xekPi4cZ5aEkAqBLKVVrOQ73iu4-AFBWvu73UXRkL3XqcNFWEPWz2edkgAC8lPw2K2xGU8NZxHROYY9pyCzYZ5UzhXqkNm/s640/DSCF1402.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KFC on the coast!</td></tr>
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That night, after walking the remaining 7km to the guesthouse, Leigh helped me to contact a local landowner to get permission to cross his land two days later.<br />
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Wednesday entailed walking 21km, once again alongside SH35, to Tikitiki. There being no accommodation there and it looked like being a wet night I hitched a ride to Te Araroa where I stayed at a backpackers in an old nunnery.<br />
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It took exactly 2 hours to hitch a ride back to Tikitiki on Thursday morning. Ian is the local painter and as he drove he told me interesting facts and stories. A few years ago he arranged to pick up the local District Nurse after she had run form Te Araroa to East Cape a distance of 20km. On Ian's arrival at East Cape there was no sign of the nurse. A police search ensued and next day her body was found in the sea. She had a broken neck. They think she tried to climb a bluff and slipped.<br />
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A backroad from Tikitiki led me to Rangitukia, a small settlement. A car passed me with the tailgate down and a teenager sitting on it. As it went past she yelled "Go brother you're walking the world" Then turning to those inside the car "he's the one walking New Zealand". Two people stopped to offer rides which was ironic since it had taken 2 hours to get a lift when I wanted one and now I was being offered them when I didn't ! Further up the road in the middle of nowhere I was greeted by a young and friendly goat who followed me 3 km s up the road and another 2 down a farm track. I finally managed to loose "George" when I went through a gateway and he couldn't get through. I could still hear his plaintive bleating several hundred metres up the track. After traveling with me so far I thought perhaps I should have given him one of my cards, with this blog address on it. But who knows how long before he could get to a computer and by then he would have probably eaten the card!<br />
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The farm track took me 5km across Haha Station to the beach. I only hope George found something to laugh about! Once on the beach I surprised a herd of cattle who took off running up the beach in the surf. After 4km of beach I crossed a paddock to reach the end of East Cape Road and the track to the lighthouse. I didn't need to count the steps as Ian had already told me there are 776. I surprised myself by walking to the top without stopping (I had hidden my pack at the bottom behind a building) . It had started to rain as I left the beach so it was a quick visit to the lighthouse and back down again. A further 4km of road walking took me to what is advertised as the East Cape Camping Ground. This is a serious misrepresentation as the campground consists of two derelict buildings, no running water, the grass not mown and the only amenity a long drop toilet. There is an honesty box here, with a charge of just $6. I thought about the lack of honesty in their advertising and for the first time did not pay. I thought $6 was a bit steep to use a longdrop!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4egQKNWl8fMXtlaEbhyphenhyphenzDStTrpIhGm0c2OCdcKEsFOemRStKHWtexG1Y1OideHaZKXZU1rnaIH0uMlx-Yo2RiT75pr_5mr8k8PyHflPKRty_b2ggnTCUzI2GJOo8R6Qb9ioy6EsGsbeMI/s1600/DSCF1414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4egQKNWl8fMXtlaEbhyphenhyphenzDStTrpIhGm0c2OCdcKEsFOemRStKHWtexG1Y1OideHaZKXZU1rnaIH0uMlx-Yo2RiT75pr_5mr8k8PyHflPKRty_b2ggnTCUzI2GJOo8R6Qb9ioy6EsGsbeMI/s640/DSCF1414.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beef on the reef!</td></tr>
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As it was getting late due to my 2 hour wait for a ride I had no choice but to stay there. I was therefore quite surprised that there were 4 vehicles with a total of 9 tourists also there. We lit a fire from driftwood and swapped stories. That night was the worst of my walk so far. Wind and rain continued on and off all night and one of my tent pegs came out causing the tent fly to blow back over the tent and for the first time I got water in the tent. My bag of clothes and my sleeping bag all got wet.<br />
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Next morning I trudged the 16km in the rain back to Te Araroa and the backpackers, had a shower, put on what dry clothes I had and rested the rest of the day.<br />
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Yesterday marked a month since I had restarted walking and I set off early to try to get to Hamilton for a weeks rest. As there is no public transport from Te Araroa I left there at 6.45am and started hitchhiking. Three rides got me the 220km to Whakatane by 12 noon, in plenty of time to catch the 2pm bus to Hamilton. Unfortunately there was no 2pm bus and no more for the rest of the day. Two more rides got me to Tauranga by 2.15pm in plenty of time to catch the 3pm Hamilton bus.<br />
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So here I am for the next week, resting and eating and reflecting on all the wonderful, friendly people I have met so far on the East Coast. Im sure the Gisborne Herald article helped as it brought what I am doing to peoples attention. Fundamentally though I have discovered that there is an underlying generosity of spirit and friendliness that is more abundant amongst "coasters" than anywhere else I've walked so far.<br />
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In the last month I've walked 365km<br />
Total North Island = 929km<br />
Total both islands = 2665km<br />
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<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-31037893872595431202013-09-29T15:36:00.001-07:002013-10-13T01:54:33.236-07:00Gisborne Gadabout<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtlbbMXZrYU8sbK52WPUso1KagZwP3bAoGn_ZgshCKmdOcEv-aWwwE_AVDtou0xdsdxUr_ymjO9dBfiref5Yj9Bk24lymVSytxD8sJ1niDOHAGfSDMAk5C2eWLeQ4UMNjxwdOIkCUHMrz/s1600/DSCF1360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtlbbMXZrYU8sbK52WPUso1KagZwP3bAoGn_ZgshCKmdOcEv-aWwwE_AVDtou0xdsdxUr_ymjO9dBfiref5Yj9Bk24lymVSytxD8sJ1niDOHAGfSDMAk5C2eWLeQ4UMNjxwdOIkCUHMrz/s640/DSCF1360.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disused Gisborne Railway</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4e9DiVJhrVBgRLiit3lJq4EkYfDxKxVjzJgjtm-_tldcgK1aAvz3gd_w5I4cd2TZeC4YR8clX7Dc9ujQF_Qjm6LPGmv503cxuuenpipuagb-O_-0fghRdl9jtvQIDNRlw5lWEzgKLkeS/s1600/DSCF1371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4e9DiVJhrVBgRLiit3lJq4EkYfDxKxVjzJgjtm-_tldcgK1aAvz3gd_w5I4cd2TZeC4YR8clX7Dc9ujQF_Qjm6LPGmv503cxuuenpipuagb-O_-0fghRdl9jtvQIDNRlw5lWEzgKLkeS/s640/DSCF1371.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gisborne Car Park</td></tr>
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Firstly Hi to Icy and Cedric & Sally, thanks for the comments you posted on this blog. I do enjoy receiving them.<br />
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I left Wairoa on Saturday 21st September after a pleasant stay at the Riverside Camp Ground. I walked the first 2km up the main road, sans my large pack. Stu from the camp took it to where the road meets the railway line. From there I walked 6km along the disused railway to Tuhara then turned right towards the beach. My map showed a road to the beach but a farmer on a motorbike advised me that I would need to cross his land. Richard readily gave me permission and also offered me the use of his cabin at the beach. I had intended to walk further that day but a cabin is always better than my small tent.<br />
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The cabin was locked but a window was open so managed to open the door from the inside. I noticed a hole in the floor chewed by rats so covered it over to keep them out. Later that night I could hear them scratching and clawing but a bang on the floor or walls shut them up up for awhile. About 1am I noticed a shadow on the INSIDE of the window and realised that the scratching had been Mr Rat trying to get out not in! I uncovered the hole and a short time later heard it scrabble through the hole and never heard another thing for the rest of the night.<br />
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The next day, after waiting an hour for the rain to cease, I covered 18km, all on the beach. I camped in a sheltered spot not far from Nuhaka. On Monday I was away at 7.50am. the first 3km was on the beach but I had to head 1km inland to cross the Nuhaka River by a railway bridge. Just before the bridge I came to a deep side stream. A semi submerged fallen tree was the only way across. As it was I got wet to my waist but the day was hot and I soon dried out. I could have been a lot wetter, a side branch broke off in my hand as I was crossing and I nearly fell in.<br />
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I walked along the railway for 4km and then on the road for 5km. I had not seen anyone for two days and was short of water and refilled my water bottle from an outside tap at a house near the road. A short while later I came to a petrol station and bought myself an ice cream. The final stretch for the day was 3km along the beach to Mahia where I booked into the Motor Camp. The price of cabins was outside of my budget so I paid for a campsite.<br />
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The following day the forecast was for heavy rain and gale force winds so I had no choice but to book into a cabin for the next two nights. The owner Jacinda generously gave me two nights for the price of one. I spent the next two days reading, doing crosswords and watching the America's Cup yatch racing, on the camp TV, with two other couples staying at the camp, also sheltering from the storm, Sel & Jenny and Dale & Jenny. From the local shop I also picked up a copy of The Wairoa Star with an article and photo about my walk. One night I had a pub meal and John who cooked my meal recognised me from the article. World famous in Mahia!!!<br />
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On Thursday 26th September I walked 19km on roads and farm tracks. I had my raincoat and leggings on when I left Mahia but was down to shirt and shorts by the afternoon. I passed through Mahanga and got permission from Malcolm Rough to cross his farm. From there it was a steady climb for 6km until I reached a pine plantation. A gang of loggers was at work and I struggled through the thick mud past their work site. They advised me that there was a 2nd gang just down the road and they would let them know by radio that I was coming through. Shortly after passing the second gang I camped for the night alongside a disused house and old woolshed. A pleasant wind free spot complete with a longdrop!<br />
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Next morning I walked down Paritu Rd and after 2km a ute stopped and the driver offered me a ride. I declined but asked him to take my pack to the end of the road, a distance of 10km. It turned out that Shane had been in the 2nd gang I'd passed the day before and they did in fact receive a radio message about me. "Bear Grylls is coming through!! Just before the main road I collected my pack and refilled my water bottles. My map showed no houses on Paritu Rd but I saw 13 people by the time I had reached the end. Next it was 3km along State Highway 2 and finally another 8km along the railway track. Total walked that day was 23km. At that point I stepped out onto the road and, as a van was coming put my thumb out, the van stopped and within 30 seconds of leaving the track I was in the van and on my way to Gisborne. Once there I booked into the YHA.<br />
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On Saturday I hitched back to where I had left off the day before and walked another 10kms along the rail tracks and crossed the rail bridge over the Waipaoa River. I then followed the stop banks to the beach. I had the choice of following the beach, a road or a 4wd track for the final 8km into Gisborne. I chose the track. I was shocked at the amount of rubbish dumped along this track. The worst I have seen since I started my walk. When I reached Gisborne I stopped to read an inscription on a statue and heard someone say my name. I had met Sel and Jenny at Mahia, so we had a catch up. They are an Australian couple who have been travelling in NZ since last December. To celebrate reaching Gisborne I shouted myself a bottle of wine.<br />
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I had yesterday off and today am doing some chores, updating blog, shopping and being interviewed by the local paper. Tomorrow I head off again, this time to go around East Cape. As there are few accessible beaches, that join up, or tracks, I will mostly be walking on the road.<br />
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Total km walked so far = 166 since restart 2 weeks ago. 730 North Island and 2466 in total.<br />
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Unfortunately I left my camera behind at the hostel so pictures will have to wait.<br />
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<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-29158129834031482612013-09-19T17:32:00.002-07:002013-09-19T18:17:49.564-07:00Wairoa Wanderings<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTosuDRr1Dp6HdinVtV0OX_Eo2s2pEGEgM47I8g6RTXsOLC9UOU5v2XiYeS6uL1pxnlh5S51Ii4n15WqNABoQ4rymw6X0x6XGex81AUadUg8PPrp2ujmcOlk1f6mtoekcbTU_-B0UaxW79/s1600/DSCF1357%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTosuDRr1Dp6HdinVtV0OX_Eo2s2pEGEgM47I8g6RTXsOLC9UOU5v2XiYeS6uL1pxnlh5S51Ii4n15WqNABoQ4rymw6X0x6XGex81AUadUg8PPrp2ujmcOlk1f6mtoekcbTU_-B0UaxW79/s640/DSCF1357%5B1%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wairoa River mouth near where I left the beach to hitch into Wairoa..</td></tr>
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My bus departed Hamilton last Saturday at 10am, with me on board, but I was destined not to leave Hamilton until 3pm! The bus broke down 10minutes later and we were all decamped to the footpath. An hour and 20 minutes later a mechanic arrived, he was unable to fix the problem and we were put aboard another bus and taken back to the bus station about noon. We were told that a replacement bus was being sent from Auckland. When it arrived at 1.30pm those of us travelling to Napier and due to change buses at Taupo were advised to wait for the next direct service to Napier at 3pm! I finally arrived in Napier at 8.05pm, friends Bev & Chris collected me and took me home for a delayed dinner. <br />
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On Sunday Bev and Chris drove me to the end of Aropanui Rd where I had permission from Ron, the owner of Glendale Station to walk across his land. This was where I had walked to in March, before returning to Hamilton with a sore foot. After saying farewell to Bev and Chris it was a long hard struggle uphill. I had weighed my pack that morning at 26kg. It rained an hour after I started and I had to put on my raincoat and new leggings. Having done no training this time around I intended to take it easy for the first few days and only did 6km that first day. I camped on the coast at Ridgemount having seen nobody. I did see lots of sheep, goats, geese and one very dead very bloated pig! As it was dark by 6.20pm, I was in my tent and in my sleeping bag by that time!<br />
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On Monday I did 12km along the beach, the first 5km of which involved lots of clambering over rocks. Later it was all hard sand and easy walking. Towards the end there was a mass of tree debris washed up on the shore. The Waikari River proved to be too deep and fast to wade across so I decided to camp alongside it and try to cross at low tide next morning. At that stage I had seen nobody since Bev and Chris had dropped me off the day before. Later that afternoon I was sitting in my tent reading when I heard an engine. Thinking that it might be a boat, I got out of the tent and discovered it was a plane flying over. While watching the plane I saw a man walking on the beach. Allan had rowed down river from a campsite upstream. We sat chatting for quite awhile and he told me about the many different and diverse careers he had during his working life. Now "nearly 80" he is long retired. He agreed to row me across the river the next morning as he was planning on returning to do some fishing.<br />
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About 7am on Tuesday, Allan rowed me across the Waikari River. Shortly after I got wet feet crossing another shallower stream. I walked along hard sand all day until I got to the Mohaka River, where I walked up roads and crossed the river bridge. There is a camping ground at Mohaka but it was locked up and there was no sign of anybody being around. After filling my water bottles at a house, I spent a miserable night camped above the beach, with the tent flapping in the wind. Total walked for the day was 11km.<br />
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I was away at 7.20am on Wednesday. An initial scramble along the steep banks of the Mohaka River brought me back to the beach. The beach was ideal for walking, nice hard sand and no rocks. All day I walked under steep cliffs and it looked like that, at high tide, the sea washed against the cliffs. Just before the Wairoa River mouth the cliffs finished and I followed a road for a short way. After walking 19km that day I hitched a lift into Wairoa. The young family, who picked me up, drove out of their way to drop me at the Riverside Motor Camp, where I booked into their backpackers dorm for 3 nights.<br />
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I'd have to say that this is the cleanest camp I've been in so far! Bill and Sharon made me very welcome. It was great to spend a night in bed again and the two others sharing the dorm, Howard and Derrick assured me I didn't snore too loudly!<br />
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Yesterday (Thursday) Bill the camp owner drove me back out to where I had hitched from and I walked the 7km back into town alongside the Wairoa River. I spent the rest of the day trying to get information about my route ahead. I was also interviewed by the local newspaper, the Wairoa Star.<br />
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I'm having a rest day today. After a leisurely start to the day I posed for a photo to go with the newspaper article and then walked into town to update this blog. This afternoon I intend to curl up with a book. Tomorrow morning I head north again.<br />
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So far I have felt no adverse affects in my feet, legs and back and I am hopeful of continued good health. I may not be able do another post here until I reach Gisborne, in about 10 days or so.<br />
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Total walked since restart on Sunday is 55km. <br />
Total North Island to date = 620km <br />
Grand total = 2356km.<br />
<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-84786772277497557352013-09-11T15:39:00.002-07:002013-09-11T16:05:04.010-07:00On The Road (Beach) Again<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykpOe4fHzUX5xOP_ydzi6YpF57AonSfciM0BWyhaIhyphenhyphenz_91brboPN2OUg_P0Oh3IvriA_PP1UEyzJ_XH1t6cNPMjbTOrZ7xbfm3HE8u8EdjXelkIEftGsHhSS5yUg78tj7lokbu4pc7MG/s1600/DSCF1343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykpOe4fHzUX5xOP_ydzi6YpF57AonSfciM0BWyhaIhyphenhyphenz_91brboPN2OUg_P0Oh3IvriA_PP1UEyzJ_XH1t6cNPMjbTOrZ7xbfm3HE8u8EdjXelkIEftGsHhSS5yUg78tj7lokbu4pc7MG/s640/DSCF1343.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">63rd Birthday </td></tr>
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Over the past few months I have been back in Hamilton with Charissa for the winter to allow my foot to fully recover. However, I have not been idle. During the week, I have been doing casual work for Tradestaff and on weekends, selling at street markets, fairs and swapmeets. The work for Tradestaff was varied: landscaping, painting, stock taking, stacking pallets, store man, plant nursery and construction work. The shortest period of work was half a day and the longest 6 weeks.<br />
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Thanks to Rebecca Lee of Jade Acupuncture in Hamilton, my foot quickly recovered and I have had no pain for some months. Rebecca advised me to rest the foot for 3 months and since then I have been waiting for the weather to improve.<br />
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On Saturday, I travel to Napier and on Sunday 15th of September, I restart walking from where I left off which is about 30km north of Napier.This time I have not done any training in preparation but I plan to take it easy for the first few days and gradually increase the amount of time walking each day, using that as my training.<br />
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On my last day of walking earlier this year, I could not get around a headland as the sea was too deep at that point to wade around and the cliff too steep to climb. I have permission from the farmer to walk across his land so my first 6km will be up a farm track.<br />
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My next post will likely be from Wairoa in about 10 days time.<br />
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<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-84803339381480551642013-04-11T18:35:00.000-07:002013-04-11T18:35:30.430-07:00Spirit Willing - Body Weak <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6cQwtsNxag-r4RHhstj_AgN8MnD8rgNy_bmdwifEsfYO1BGkjFmXqWFE5Vi5U0xqBIWfatmNxdwPMWZQr1mc4rsHZWFLurNiCPzHtBi3GQwkaFQ68sJQdROyKCSWJ23pWT9j9x57In2m/s1600/DSCF1333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6cQwtsNxag-r4RHhstj_AgN8MnD8rgNy_bmdwifEsfYO1BGkjFmXqWFE5Vi5U0xqBIWfatmNxdwPMWZQr1mc4rsHZWFLurNiCPzHtBi3GQwkaFQ68sJQdROyKCSWJ23pWT9j9x57In2m/s640/DSCF1333.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends Bev & Chris in Napier. They loaned me a car, ferried me around and provided a base for me to come and go fro</td></tr>
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<i><u>Total distance Walked since November 2011 = 2301km. Total North Island 565km.</u></i><br />
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Sad to tell you that I am now having to take the winter off to allow my foot to recover. Two weeks after restarting at Porangahau my foot again started to play up and I have now returned to Hamilton. I will take at least 3 months off and return to the walk in July or August. I am again having acupuncture which is has already relived most of the aching.<br />
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After a couple of days rest in Napier my friend Chris dropped me off in Clifton and I walked 24 easy kms into Napier. Most of the journey was along crushed limestone paths plus a little beach walking. Once back in Napier I called at the local i-site to gather information about the coast ahead. They proved to be totally useless, not even having a map of the coast! The local DOC office proved more helpful and I learned that the coastal walkway I had hoped to take has been closed for some years due to landslides and erosion.<br />
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The following day I walked 26km to Tongoio, most of the way was once again along crushed gravel paths past Ahuriri, Westshore & Bayview. Once past Bayview I took rough tracks and reverted to the beach where necessary. After crossing the Esk River I walked past Whirinaki and crossed another river. From there it was along the beach to Tongoio. Two km of road walking then brought me to the main road. After half an hour of putting my thumb out I was picked up by Lou, a local wool buyer, who took right to where I was staying at Bev & Chris's home.<br />
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I had another day off and on Sunday Bev & Chris dropped me off at Tongoio about 9.30am.<br />
Only walked 8km that day due to a very rocky coastline and carrying my big pack. The rocks in this area have lots of shell fossils embedded in them which makes them very sharp. I slipped at one stage and received impressive looking grazes to both legs and one arm. While they looked impressive and received lots of comments in the days to come they were only superficial and soon healed. Occasionally I was able to get above the rocks and walk on sheep tracks and 10 minutes from Waipatiki Beach I followed a track to the Motor Camp. I stayed in my tent that night at the camp. I did not get much sleep that night due partly to my aching foot and the scratches to my legs.<br />
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Before leaving the next day I spoke with a Hawaiian couple who have a fruit farm in Hawaii and a home in Havelock North. Later they overtook me on the 3.5km track to Aropaoanui. Met up with them again there and left them exploring the beach. From there I followed parts of the abandoned Coastal Walkway but large portions have fallen into the sea and I had to walk in the sea a few times. After a couple of hours I came to a spot that I could not get past as the waves were crashing off the rocks and the cliff was too steep to climb. As it was only 2 hours after low tide it seemed unlikely that I would get past even had I tried at low tide. I reluctantly returned to Aropaoanui where I camped for the night. After walking for 13km I was only 3.5km further north! That evening I walked to a local farmhouse and received permission to cross their farm the next day along a farm track which would bring me out on the coast north of the cliff.<br />
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The following morning after another restless night with my foot continuously aching I made the decision to return to Hamilton to seek treatment. I returned the 3.5 km along the coast to Waipatiki and hitchhiked from there back into Napier. After spending another night with Bev & Chris I caught the bus to Hamilton.<br />
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Four treatments of acupuncture has seen my foot improve and I only have a small amount of aching now. I have been advised to give my foot a good rest. I will try to get temporary work over the winter and return to walking after the worst of the winter is over.<br />
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<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-18815866241557512902013-03-19T16:53:00.000-07:002013-03-19T23:14:03.833-07:00Back On My Feet<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCysrl3sxFZPaA_3IysnpEJ-bZB1ejxOyZuULysRIDZ_LDozCLnrQHwMVHXCOaVXI864Qt7SHIFwjGmDlW5YMzr50jSJ1r-nqKzJnCJuwF9pzhbhUhtSwCWjmHc1Yyro40XROfF1ZYXFf/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCysrl3sxFZPaA_3IysnpEJ-bZB1ejxOyZuULysRIDZ_LDozCLnrQHwMVHXCOaVXI864Qt7SHIFwjGmDlW5YMzr50jSJ1r-nqKzJnCJuwF9pzhbhUhtSwCWjmHc1Yyro40XROfF1ZYXFf/s640/012.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What was the longest place name in the world (until I created a longer one)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmj85rsCEYF0raiM3LAUkytbk-gVzdQ0qZjlM3oxwQ22q3xFM8a8wDjWBUjM66N2m3gp029IY34Oe5W6AR-Kq6B6hFVOM5ahdhNYlbTzGejNpjRFVZSAPyRFFWhIv33zIouBcjgSvcJyK/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmj85rsCEYF0raiM3LAUkytbk-gVzdQ0qZjlM3oxwQ22q3xFM8a8wDjWBUjM66N2m3gp029IY34Oe5W6AR-Kq6B6hFVOM5ahdhNYlbTzGejNpjRFVZSAPyRFFWhIv33zIouBcjgSvcJyK/s640/013.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter &Cocoa. peter and his wife Michelle provided me with accommodation and took my pack 15km.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTT4SuyQq397FZCrCxVDvqv7f8UJZPNd2ife-OeH1bBjj9CL05EArCZ5oFID3ydf_ObY2-BWU2nDn3gnYdQmT7Y3oS6ngqIz1_2kYuC-42F5343spDw3e38WNN3yz2xU-qn0NnmzFwVgdh/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTT4SuyQq397FZCrCxVDvqv7f8UJZPNd2ife-OeH1bBjj9CL05EArCZ5oFID3ydf_ObY2-BWU2nDn3gnYdQmT7Y3oS6ngqIz1_2kYuC-42F5343spDw3e38WNN3yz2xU-qn0NnmzFwVgdh/s640/018.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natural stone arches near Cape Kidnappers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT_xOTCLuTGtbf0hhwW1moA9lxomh6vBbATR3FmkbzATk5lY-DHuC9B40EupDzU7kNYGnqPnx-UfqJFmXyovXFeaCpbcmr0jNOyc_xwSbDqImDzU18TWhdLNahbvsRZYa-n8iFXhf1NUZ/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT_xOTCLuTGtbf0hhwW1moA9lxomh6vBbATR3FmkbzATk5lY-DHuC9B40EupDzU7kNYGnqPnx-UfqJFmXyovXFeaCpbcmr0jNOyc_xwSbDqImDzU18TWhdLNahbvsRZYa-n8iFXhf1NUZ/s640/019.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gannet Colony - Cape Kidnappers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5CDseKoi4XdfVoUZIVcYWR7QH2iLHqSBl96UZKwts8dZ2zf3KMPupG7MrvHsDfVWarBVGnr-sNXfJFX0aeIj1cn12DZkBrVtLIfLL5iXlV7kUYnEej8bpATEWGCtHn9TjkHMI7s1pfP4/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5CDseKoi4XdfVoUZIVcYWR7QH2iLHqSBl96UZKwts8dZ2zf3KMPupG7MrvHsDfVWarBVGnr-sNXfJFX0aeIj1cn12DZkBrVtLIfLL5iXlV7kUYnEej8bpATEWGCtHn9TjkHMI7s1pfP4/s640/020.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back towards Cape Kidnappers</td></tr>
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Total distance walked since November 2011 = 2226km. Total North Island = 490km<br />
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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. <br />
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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.<br />
Here goes: <br />
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Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipuakaapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu<br />
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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'<br />
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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.<br />
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Theveryspotwhereerichadtostopwalkingbecauseofaverysorefootonhisepicwalkfromblufftocapereinga-<br />
andwherehelaterresumedwalkingfromafteraccupuncturehadfixedhisfoot<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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. <br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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!<br />
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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. <br />
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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.<br />
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.<br />
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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.Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-39465742054271044082013-03-08T00:52:00.000-08:002013-03-10T00:46:44.995-08:00Needles & Pins<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkwO4AYm-PZDXCethma_ZJd8hUtjCLhcCiemjxTo-uf9UfLQs1MlhLOSqSBA9nqswuoG1FX4ALSRiE7RRWKeF_BB6pQnK3rxMiI6H7zr075NpJoNuQI3eyWgCn__IlzjkDwzSI9B6IQXL/s1600/DSCF1305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkwO4AYm-PZDXCethma_ZJd8hUtjCLhcCiemjxTo-uf9UfLQs1MlhLOSqSBA9nqswuoG1FX4ALSRiE7RRWKeF_BB6pQnK3rxMiI6H7zr075NpJoNuQI3eyWgCn__IlzjkDwzSI9B6IQXL/s640/DSCF1305.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My left foot - with acupuncture needles</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My left knee</td></tr>
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I returned to Hamilton 5 weeks ago with a sore foot. Initially I just rested it, in the hope it would get better on its own. While it was a little better after two weeks, I accepted the offer of acupuncture from Dr Rebecca Lee of Jade Acupuncture in Hamilton. I am pleased to report that after 12 sessions, it is now fully recovered.<br />
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Rebecca is a skilled Acupuncturist, which she has taught in her native Taiwan. I was initially a little nervous about letting someone stick needles in me but she has studied and learnt how to keep the pain levels low. The remarkable thing was that I had noticeable improvements in my foot after each treatment. If you are in Hamilton NZ and in pain, give Rebecca a call at Jade Acupuncture (07 838 0171).<br />
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On Monday I am booked on the bus to Napier where I will spend the night with friends Bev & Chris and on Tuesday return to Porangahau and resume walking on Wednesday. <br />
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Over the past 5 weeks I have I have been resting and eating and have put on any weight I had lost walking from Wellington and am eager to resume walking.<br />
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Since starting my walk in November 2011 I have walked a total of 2106 km, 371 of that in the North Island. All going to plan I should be able to place another report in about 10 days and add another 120 km to the tally.<br />
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While we are on the subject of statistics, there has now been over 10,000 views of this blog. Incredible! Currently averaging about 50 views a day. Amazing!<br />
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<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-994374583733506962013-02-05T17:06:00.000-08:002013-02-05T17:06:42.395-08:00The Wairarapa Experience<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXt_9KvHWKlISypPZea_EPy2T03oNCMhFYbY0fLxW7Fd1ckfW50zlz0npaMiNpgyPJ1gEhwOeiqRIbYYJHnbQHYjp2UjyCXCLAcWbrpbseX_Gd7wQkKFbttOrxp4SSF_iqSx4yswoMAqV/s1600/DSCF1284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXt_9KvHWKlISypPZea_EPy2T03oNCMhFYbY0fLxW7Fd1ckfW50zlz0npaMiNpgyPJ1gEhwOeiqRIbYYJHnbQHYjp2UjyCXCLAcWbrpbseX_Gd7wQkKFbttOrxp4SSF_iqSx4yswoMAqV/s640/DSCF1284.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honeycomb Rock, near Glenburn Station</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long drop, Flat Point</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sudden appearance of a boat saved me a wet river crossing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near Castlepoint</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castlepoint</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul rowed me across the river</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back towards Awitio</td></tr>
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Since my last post I have continued to walk the coast of Wairarapa, where I have been treated with only kindness by the locals. On Monday 21st January I left Tora & walked 24km to Pohaoa on beaches and well graded vehicle tracks. Jenny from Tora very kindly went 20km out of her way to take my pack as far as she could before running out of tracks near the Rerewhakaaitu River . After uplifting my pack I had some tricky rocks to get around and then up a beach to Pohaoa where I spent the night in my tent in a private camping area. There were a couple of bach's and 5 caravans on site but not a soul around.<br />
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Shortly after setting off next morning I met a local fisherman who gave me advice about where to cross the Pohaoa River, which he told me would be knee high. In actual fact the water came up to my nipples! The water was not fast flowing so no problems except some items in my pack got wet. Arrived at Glenburn Station after 15km for the day. They employ a number of wwoofers on this sheep station, mainly to help out with servicing of the holiday homes. I stayed two nights and clipped a hedge and painted stable windows to pay for my keep. There were 4 German wwoofers who had been there a week, Sandra & Tim, Tito & Neeco, who all made me welcome and impressed me with the amount of food they eat in one sitting! Helen & John the owners of the station with the help of the wwoofers keep the place looking clean and tidy, with all of the buildings looking spick and span and no junk lying around.<br />
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On Thursday I set off thinking I would be carrying my pack all day but after 2km John came down the road and took my pack 5km. After collecting my pack I turned off onto Flat Point road and after 1km met Jay from Flat Point Station who took my pack on a further 5km. After a short farm track I followed the rocky beach for 6km and set up my tent beside the Kaiwhata River.<br />
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Friday was a big day of 25km most of it with the pack. Started off by walking 4km inland to Homewood Road. Ten Kilometers of road then brought me back to the beach. Two young lads took my pack for 1km along the beach. I later met up with them at the local dairy at Riversdale where I had enquired about camp sites. Apparently the only public campsite closed down several years ago. A friend of the 2 boys appeared and saved the day by taking me to his grandparents, Zella & Patty, who manage a Children's Christian Adventure Camp. They happily gave me a bed in one of the dorm rooms. As I was the only person staying I had an en-suite bathroom with a choice of 2 toilets!<br />
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Saturday was another big day of 26km with the pack to Castlepoint, mostly along the beach. After 9km I came to the Whareama River which was quite deep and wide. I had seen nobody all morning and the river was deserted when I arrived. While checking out my options of where to walk across the river a boat appeared coming down river. Responding to my waves the fishermen aboard gladly took me across the river. The final section before Castlepoint was quite rocky and I had to walk in the sea a couple of times to get around. Then it was a very steep climb up a hill and down into Castlepoint.<br />
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I stayed at the Castlepoint Holiday Park for 3 nights and the manager Kerry happily sponsored me by not charging for my tent site. Over the previous two days I had developed a dull ache in my left heel so I stayed off my feet as much as possible while there. On the Monday I was interviewed by the Wairarapa Times Age newspaper and a good article and photo of me appeared in the Wednesdays edition. While walking near Riversdale I had found a lifejacket washed up on the beach and I received phone calls from the family of a fisherman, who had gone missing near Tora, and the local police. As it turned out it the lifejacket did not belong to the missing fisherman. While in Castlepoint I also met up again with Gordon the mailman, who had taken my pack to Ngawi, while he was on holiday in Castlepoint.<br />
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Because of my sore foot I had several days of short distances. On Tuesday I walked 11km up the beach to Mataikona. Ian the local mailman took my pack there and left it at the home of a local resident, Willie. On arrival at Willie's house he invited me in for a cup of tea and this turned into an invitation to stay the night. Willie, who has twice broken his neck, lives with his son Graham. We had fresh fish for dinner caught by Graham that day. Willie phoned Scott the manager of Owahanga Station and got permission for me to walk over their land the next day. He also arranged for a friend of his, Paul, to show me where to cross a river.<br />
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On Wednesday morning Willie took my pack to the start of the beach and I walked 12km to Owahanga. Fortuitously I met Scott after 9km and he took my pack the final 3km to Paul's place.<br />
I stayed at Paul's place that night and accompanied him to a meeting at the local pub. On Thursday morning Paul rowed me across the river and I walked 10km to Akitio. Paul had arranged for Gonzo, a friend of his, to leave my pack at Bill and Diane's place. I was once again invited to stay and spent the night in a caravan at the back of the house. That evening I shared a BBQ dinner, beer and darts with Bill and Diane's house guests, 4 bank managers. Bill has 7 NZ darts titles to his name and a shelf in their bar area was crowded with trophies.<br />
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I set off on Friday morning expecting to carry my pack the whole 21km to Herbertville. However after 3km at Akitio Station I met up with Gonzo who offered to take my pack to the back boundary, 12km away! I walked the 12km up a well graded farm road and found my pack. While eating lunch a Logging Contractor came along who agreed to take my pack into Herbertville. The final 6km was along the beach. We had been experiencing 30 c degree days recently and this day was no exception. Wherever possible I wetted my bandana and placed it under my sun hat. Diane <br />
had phoned the custodians of the Herbertville camp to let them know I would be staying. On arrival the custodians, Pam & Hugh provided me with a caravan free of charge for 2 nights.<br />
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Hugh & pam arranged for my pack to be taken onto my next destination, Porangahau, by another camper. They had also phoned and gained permission for me to walk through Tautane Station. As I was not quite sure where the farm track actually went I hope the staff at the station will forgive me for waking their dogs at 7.15am on a Sunday morning! I got temporaily lost trying to follow a paper road across the station and a 3km segment turned into 6km. The rest of the day was on roads. As my foot was still giving me problems I hitched the remaining 12km after walking 23km for the day. My pack had been left at the Porangahau pub and I bought a beer when I arrived to collect it. Talking to a couple of locals resulted in an offer of a ride 5km to the camp ground and a freshly caught blue cod from another!<br />
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On arrival at the camping ground it took me 3/4 hour to find the manager Don, to check in. Don provided me with a cabin, at half price, for the night.<br />
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I had been due to return to Hamilton later this week for a few days off but because of my foot decided to head back early. I arrived back here on Monday night after leaving Porangahau at 6.50am and hitch hiking to Taupo from where Charissa picked me up. I will rest my foot for a few days and once it is better return to Porangahau, where I have been offered accommodation from one of the people I hitched a lift with, and resume walking.<br />
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<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-26540233538881515352013-01-19T22:08:00.001-08:002013-02-05T14:50:03.137-08:00Wind, rain and more wind.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh143vyzlE40eTW4dPLpBYHOYEKUbxq3eyJeiWlMisJljHa1I7nP_lFVuPuIVyVO6g9vEaycZutFNUliiZ8J8fwK6paUoVBeKyrB9_c7mXe7ve8y2437hiG0DOPVSgO1fN8j_ydGSJSB6T6/s1600/DSCF1255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh143vyzlE40eTW4dPLpBYHOYEKUbxq3eyJeiWlMisJljHa1I7nP_lFVuPuIVyVO6g9vEaycZutFNUliiZ8J8fwK6paUoVBeKyrB9_c7mXe7ve8y2437hiG0DOPVSgO1fN8j_ydGSJSB6T6/s640/DSCF1255.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of State Highway One - Wellington Airport</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicS8Bkv9JI_tlpkQEH0fk-48iYNX4UxBanxpM4WyRFqQpU7CvsFUCBkZ-7Kp8V-OLsFuQzIDRgvcwJWVZNhfUuLEJ3e8v53xnkkhZhL1VzExqtY369J769uRO3pHHJ1kZoigkKKFkc94Nh/s1600/DSCF1269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicS8Bkv9JI_tlpkQEH0fk-48iYNX4UxBanxpM4WyRFqQpU7CvsFUCBkZ-7Kp8V-OLsFuQzIDRgvcwJWVZNhfUuLEJ3e8v53xnkkhZhL1VzExqtY369J769uRO3pHHJ1kZoigkKKFkc94Nh/s640/DSCF1269.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barneys Whare</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KoPx3nC7b8a55zrf-dHMQF8W1Kf2XqpRZ3Y-mV9BeqG-2JQ2JQyFp8ZeShnbz_-pCgFanDBtEZKbXbYB648FqPV0fczL-y-sIJSALwi-MmjVryrEAz6Pch8LgYlVqQgM9CKaFQ2VkK0x/s1600/DSCF1271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KoPx3nC7b8a55zrf-dHMQF8W1Kf2XqpRZ3Y-mV9BeqG-2JQ2JQyFp8ZeShnbz_-pCgFanDBtEZKbXbYB648FqPV0fczL-y-sIJSALwi-MmjVryrEAz6Pch8LgYlVqQgM9CKaFQ2VkK0x/s640/DSCF1271.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rear of Barneys Whare, where I spent the night.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John and his bach at Ocean Beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RCz-lp8KO-Rhyb1zM_1QRzkQ97x74fabqsUKUJmrBWpUo5Xep85ozbj3ap7cHGwEUB0anGPuRZYw71S-Bczr8g9ippiwc3MZKQFlVQf-HgM9pOnyelLMqbsJYlw0hTCQSOeqizwuVbP6/s1600/DSCF1274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RCz-lp8KO-Rhyb1zM_1QRzkQ97x74fabqsUKUJmrBWpUo5Xep85ozbj3ap7cHGwEUB0anGPuRZYw71S-Bczr8g9ippiwc3MZKQFlVQf-HgM9pOnyelLMqbsJYlw0hTCQSOeqizwuVbP6/s640/DSCF1274.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gordon the helpful mailman</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVGx9js1TgLR4iV1aMBWEddgRBs4KKZi0PnPh6xncIdlWR5qWvHesEhAq6fHb9q4f6mrzIx0xu5z59kt7bxG3SCodTyvdo7iOMza-YEsOjHMhLoyAvTiFhgUO3ae6XTYtRnZVQJdSRdqD/s1600/DSCF1275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVGx9js1TgLR4iV1aMBWEddgRBs4KKZi0PnPh6xncIdlWR5qWvHesEhAq6fHb9q4f6mrzIx0xu5z59kt7bxG3SCodTyvdo7iOMza-YEsOjHMhLoyAvTiFhgUO3ae6XTYtRnZVQJdSRdqD/s640/DSCF1275.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ngawi - bulldozers are used to launch the fishing boats</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZm-HlygcgprFWiN4gA5QuWhtLwMhUC023SmIXn8u-O4fAOU9DjCyC1bkLrvIzd58sd9INZn3iD0jUBsZkjY84W6wj5Nt-Ek55_yPksIUn6uF7QYItJ1n7N6I3v1Z27cFYoZvx61h_LAJ_/s1600/DSCF1279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZm-HlygcgprFWiN4gA5QuWhtLwMhUC023SmIXn8u-O4fAOU9DjCyC1bkLrvIzd58sd9INZn3iD0jUBsZkjY84W6wj5Nt-Ek55_yPksIUn6uF7QYItJ1n7N6I3v1Z27cFYoZvx61h_LAJ_/s640/DSCF1279.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back towards Cape Palliser</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High & Dry</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jenny from Tora took my pack 20km out of her way.</td></tr>
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The start of the North Island segment of the walk started in Wellington where I stayed for 3 nights at The Base Backpackers. This is the biggest backpackers I've stayed in yet. Despite the size the staff were really friendly and the place is well organised. Thanks to Dana and Hester for all their help.<br />
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I travelled to Wellington by bus on Wednesday 9th January and next day caught a bus to the airport and started walking from there. The wind was howling as I walked around the peninsula past Seatoun. I lost my good Bivouac bandana in the wind. Once around the peninsula I walked back to the airport and the start of SH1. Then into the city in the wind and rain and back to the backpackers for a total of 17km.<br />
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Friday saw me walking out of Wellington via the Railway Station and the Bluebridge and Interislander terminals. One of the worse parts of the walk so far was walking alongside the Hutt Highway with cars and trucks whizzing past. Then along the foreshore at Petone, alongside the Hutt River and then along the bays to Eastbourne. The ferry ride back to Wellington was great after a 26km walk.<br />
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On Saturday morning I signed out of the backpackers and caught a bus back to Eastbourne. A walk alongside the promenade brought me to the start of the coastal walk to Pencarrow Head. A locked gate keeps vehicles out and allows pedestrians and cyclist through. There were a few of each, including one young man walking the gravel road in carpet slippers! Just before the two lighthouses at Pencarrow I heard a noise of wheels on gravel directly behind me and on turning around found a large bus, closely followed by two others. They were taking tourists from a Cruise ship to a lodge. So much for no vehicles. At Baring Head the road turned to a 4wd track and I was hoping that the strong Southerly would disappear once I walked around the headland. No such luck, it turned to a Northerly!<br />
After walking 22km my first attempt at camping was curtailed when the strongly gusting wind collapsed my tent! The first time this had happened to me. I then walked a further 3km and found what I thought was a sheltered spot but once again my tent was collapsed by the wind. Giving up using the tent I retreated to a locked Whare and slept on the porch behind that. Not much sleep though due to the wind and the birds in a nest above my head fidgeting all night!<br />
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The coastline in that area is rugged and beautiful. On Sunday morning after 9km I came upon a few baches at Ocean Beach. Calling at on of the baches for water, John invited me to stay the night. This was welcome after my sleepless night. John is an interesting character. In his 70's he still works part time as Land Surveyor. When in his 20's he was keen on geology and once discovered the skeleton of a 14th century Maori Chiefs son buried in the sand. The 4wd track I walked to get to Johns is a rough track and a few years ago John came across a couple in a car trying to drive to Wellington along it. He put them right and put them up for the night. They were driving a Rolls Royce, so that was parked outside his bach for the night. Not far from Johns place isa luxury lodge. Some years ago he and a mate were walking on the beach when they were approached by a man walking the opposite way "good morning gentlemen, my names Bill Clinton, you may have heard of me"! So I can now say i've shaken hands with a man who's shaken hands with Bill Clinton!<br />
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The week before I arrived John had been bitten by a dog which had previously bitten someone else and was supposed to be muzzled in public. The wound on his leg was inflamed and as he was heading into town next day to get it looked at again, he agreed to take my pack part of the way. My next destination was Lake Ferry only about 8km along the beach. However a lake empties into the sea there and so I had to make a 44km road detour. Setting off early I walked 16km along a good road and then waited for John with my pack. Once again the wind was blowing. Another 12km brought me to a main road and from there I hitchhiked 18km into Lake Ferry and the Motor Camp. Due to wind and rain I booked into a cabin for 3 nights rather than stay in my tent. The owner of the camp Mary helped sponsor me by only charging for 2 nights.<br />
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The next day Mary also generously drove me back to where i'd hitchhiked form the day before and I walked through yet more wind and rain to the cabin. Three people offered me a ride that day. The first vehicle to stop was a police car! <br />
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Wednesday was a rest day for me and guess what, no wind!<br />
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Mary had given me the name of the local Rural Delivery driver Gordon. On Thursday Gordon took my pack to Ngawi. Meeting him on the road he also gave me the address off Richie & Barbara where I could stop for a break after 21km. They made me very welcome and after tea and cake saw me on my way with fresh vegetables from their garden. 6km from Ngawi it was not only windy but wet and hailing so I hitched the remaining 6km. After collecting my pack from where Gordon had left it I managed to find someone with a room to rent as I was not keen on camping in the wind and rain.<br />
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On Friday I hitched back to where I had left off the day before and walked back to Ngawi. I had intended to move on that day but the weather was once again baked bean weather, wet and windy! So I had a lazy day reading.<br />
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On Saturday morning I was was away at 7.30 toward Cape Palliser. For 2km I walked with Kevin who was staying in the area for the long weekend. Another 9km along 4wd tracks brought me to White Rocks. Frank a local farmer gave me vege from his garden and a very welcome cold ginger beer. After walking 16km for the day I set up my tent in the White Rocks camp ground. The first time in my tent in the North Island. It had been a good day walking with no wind but by early evening the wind had started. I did manage to drift off to sleep twice during the night but it was a sleepless night as the wind blew the tent flat. The only other tent there was wrecked during the night and the occupants took refuge in their car.<br />
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After leaving camp this morning I crossed a river and then walked 12km along a 4wd drive track and a metal road to Tora. Three years ago I did the Tora Walk, this is a farm walk over 3 days where your packs are carried on each day and a meal is provided each night. I called in to see if there were any spare beds in the walkers accommodation tonight but they were all full. However Alastair invited me to stay in their home tonight. Today there has been no wind or rain and tonight I will sleep in a bed. Alastair and Jenny have opened their home to me and made me really welcome. Jenny has also kindly given me the use of her laptop to update this blog.<br />
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In the last 10 days I have walked 183km. Its mostly been roads and 4wd tracks with more of the same over coming days.<br />
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<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-63145236528602475082013-01-07T17:46:00.001-08:002013-01-07T17:46:24.245-08:00North Island Here I Come<br />
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I have had a relaxing 3 weeks with Charissa in Hamilton and caught up with family and friends. It's now time to start walking again.</div>
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Tomorrow (9th January) I travel to Wellington by bus. Weather depending, on Thursday I will commence walking the North Island. Rain and gale force winds are predicted for Thursday, so I may delay the start until Friday. While in Wellington I will be staying at The Base backpackers who are sponsoring me. A big thanks to Hester and Dana for organizing this and allowing it to happen.<br />
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Thanks to Kirsty from Bivouac Outdoors for once again giving me a generous discount on items purchased for the walk. I will be recommencing with a new pair of tramping boots as my last pair were well and truly worn out. Not only were the heels worn down but they had holes in the uppers which let sand get into the linings which then rubbed my feet.<br />
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As there are no major towns directly on the East Coast until I get to Napier it may be sometime until I can write the next post here. I will endeavor to write again, as soon as I can.<br />
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<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-44203179144434940412012-12-19T14:26:00.000-08:002012-12-19T14:26:48.827-08:00Queen Charlotte Sounds Walkway <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weka stole my lunch!</td></tr>
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As I had a few days to spare after arriving in Picton, before my ferry booking to Wellington. I walked the Queen Charlotte Walkway. Many thanks to Cougar Lines who sponsored me by providing a 50% discount on the boat trip. The Walkway is 71km long and I took the Cougar Line boat to Ships Cove to start the walk and they ferried my pack on each day and then collected me at the end from Anakiwa and took me back to Picton.<br />
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I really enjoyed the 3 day walk. The views on both sides are fabulous, the gradients are not too steep and as most of the walk is under the bush canopy, it wasn't too hot. While eating lunch on the first day I put my sandwich down on the seat alongside me and a couple of cheeky Weka stole it while I wasn't looking. This is not the first time I have been mugged by birds! That night Weka also dragged my toilet bag away from my tent, possibly trying to get at the fish oil tablets inside.<br />
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Kaia, a German girl was also walking the track at the same time as me and we met up both evenings and discussed the days walk. I also met a Christchurch couple on the second and third days. Although I stayed at DOC campsites both nights, there are other accommodation options. Several hotels are situated along the track.<br />
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I took the opportunity to look around the Outward Bound School at Anakiwa while waiting for the boat back to Picton. I have always been interested in Outward Bound and the leadership and confidence building courses they provide so it was great to see the place and look around.<br />
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I am now back in Hamilton for 3 weeks and will start the North Island leg of the walk on 10th January. I wish you all a very Happy Xmas and may 2013 be good to you.<br />
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Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2120306930078711162.post-81677782990859736072012-12-11T15:48:00.001-08:002012-12-11T15:48:52.936-08:00Done it - South IslandI had celebratory dinner last night to mark the completion of my walk of the South Island. But that is getting ahead of myself.<br />
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On Saturday 8th December after 4 nights in Blenheim I walked to Rarangi Beach. On the way out of Blenheim I came across an outdoors market, those of you who know me will also know that I couldn't resist stopping and checking for bargains. I found a few too, but due to weight constraints had to leave most of them behind, although I did buy a couple of small items.<br />
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The first 10km were on SHI and then 10km down side roads to the beach. Was offered two lifts on the way, once by a farmer. Then just short of my destination Joe & Steph, a pleasant young couple, stopped and were disappointed that I didn't want a ride. They were interested to know where I was going and what I was doing. They asked lots of questions and gave me strawberries and a book to read.<br />
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It started to rain just before I got to the DOC campsite but stopped as I was putting up my tent. Later Pam who looks after 12 DOC campsites called around. She couldn't find my camp fee envelope even though I had posted it in the correct slot. After much poking with a stick and posting other objects through the slot my envelope finally fell out. I had started to think that Pam thought I was lying about paying. She gave me a ride up the hill above the camp so that I could see if the road or the track was the better option the following day.<br />
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Next day I walked up the scenic track to Whites Bay and called in at Pam's cottage for a cup of tea. She thought she knew someone looking for workers but several phone calls later it turned out her friend had filled his quota of vineyard workers. Only walked a total of 10km that day, to Robinhood Bay. Set up in another DOC campsite and had a sociable night with Max a German travelling on his own, Marco & Sandie another German couple, Dave a Kiwi tour guide and another couple who's name I have forgotten. A nice evening drinking wine and beer swapping travel stories was had by all.<br />
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Marco & Sandie were travelling in the same direction as me the next day and agreed to take on my pack on. As I wasn't sure of where I would get to that night, we arranged that I would set off walking early and would get my pack once they caught me up. I was away at 6.25am and had walked 12.5km up the road and past several bays by the time they caught me up at 8.50am. A quick thanks and farewell and they were off to catch the ferry to Wellington. Helped again by strangers.<br />
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Another 2.5 km up the road I found a sign advertising backpackers and camping. All the beds were taken by a forestry gang but Sandra offered me a tent site free of charge. It was still morning but 28c were forecasts and it was already quite hot so I was grateful for a place to camp. A gold coin bought me a welcome shower. I had been told that Sandra cooked a good evening meal and this proved to be the case. $10 bought me soup and toast, roast lamb & vege, cheesecake & fruit. She also had a spare packed lunch and gave me that. I was also able to help myself to toast for breakfast. The bargain of the century.<br />
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Sandra's husband Ray works at Queen Charlotte College in Picton as the International Student Coordinator and yesterday morning he brought my pack into town with him. I walked the 15km into Picton, 4km uphill and the rest downhill along a tar sealed road that showed the signs of the high temperature the day before. I collected my pack from the school and arranged with Ray that I would return this morning to talk to a group of 11 year olds about my walk.<br />
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After booking into the Atlantis Backpackers and having a shower I walked the few metres to the ferry terminal to complete my walk of the South Island. It seems surreal that I have now finished this part of the journey. Total walked since I started is 1735km.<br />
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This morning I gave a 50minute talk to 36 11 year olds. I was pleasantly surprised how many insightful questions were asked. Thanks to their teacher Dave who has loaned me his laptop to update this blog.<br />
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Thanks to Cougar Cruises who have offered me a 50% discount off the cost of the boat trip out to the start of the Queen Charlotte Sounds walk tomorrow. I will take 3 days and two nights to do the walk and they will take my pack on each day. Next Tuesday I take the ferry to Wellington and then fly back to Hamilton for 3 weeks recuperation over Xmas and New Year.<br />
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<br />Eric Diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514499516473921595noreply@blogger.com1