The journey has finally started. Thanks to Mike and Christine who put me up for the weekend and to Mike who got up at 4.45am so that he could get his chores done before he took me to the airport. Charissa came to see me off at the airport and we both got a bit emotional saying goodbye.
I had 3 uneventful flights leaving Hamilton at 7am and arriving in Invercargill about 1.45pm.The only thing of note during the journey was a verbal spat with the operator of a cafe in Wellington Airport who don't provide water apart from the bottled variety available at $4 a bottle.
Was met at Invercargill Airport by Nicole Wright a friend of my daughter who took me to a couple of outdoor shops so that I could purchase a couple of things we then picked 5 year old Tobi up from school and then to her home. Walked back into town and purchased food supplies for the next 3 weeks on Stewart Island and Tobi then helped me to cram them into my already full pack. I will be wearing a small front pack for a few days until the supplies start getting used up. Later met Nicole's husband Shawn. They have all been very hospitable and happy to assist me in any way. I would call it southern hospitality except they are originally from Rotorua.
Tomorrow I cross over to Stewart Island on the ferry and commence walking the day after, the same day that rain is predicted. It is unlikely that I will be able to post any more on this blog until 28th November. Talk to you all then.
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Saturday, 5 November 2011
Unemployed and Homeless
Friday we moved out of the house, a long busy day getting Marilyn shifted into her new home.
When I called into the supermarket afterwards the checkout girl asked me if I'd had a good day, to which I said it had been busy. She said "you'll pleased to get home then", yes I said I would but no longer had a home to go to. She didn't know what to say to that. I'm now officially unemployed and homeless. Have also made the final delivery to my storage facility.
A big thanks to Brian Grahams-Smith from Creative Signs Solutions in Hamilton for the donation of "wherespoppy" flags, they have made a brilliant job of them I requested 2 and got given 10, so will be able to give some away to supporters. I will put one on my pack and one on my tent.
My daughter Naomi challenged me to shave off my beard and then let it grow and not trim it until I finish the walk, I have today shaved my beard but will reserve the decision about whether to trim or not until later.
I have a couple of photos to add to this blog at some stage but because I am on a strange computer with nobody around to help will post them later. One photo is of my mother (who is in a rest home in UK ) holding up a "wherespoppy" sign the other photo is of my granddaughter who made a wherespoppy sign out of shells on the beach. As I've said I will post these later but in the meantime I'd like to challenge everyone to see who can either get a photo of someone famous to hold up a "wherespoppy" sign or take a photo of a "wherespoppy" sign in an unusual location.
Tomorrow morning I fly to Invercargill, cross over to Stewart Island on Tuesday and start a 3 week tramp on Wednesday. I'm surprising myself about how relaxed I am about starting this new adventure. still very much looking forward to it though.
When I called into the supermarket afterwards the checkout girl asked me if I'd had a good day, to which I said it had been busy. She said "you'll pleased to get home then", yes I said I would but no longer had a home to go to. She didn't know what to say to that. I'm now officially unemployed and homeless. Have also made the final delivery to my storage facility.
A big thanks to Brian Grahams-Smith from Creative Signs Solutions in Hamilton for the donation of "wherespoppy" flags, they have made a brilliant job of them I requested 2 and got given 10, so will be able to give some away to supporters. I will put one on my pack and one on my tent.
My daughter Naomi challenged me to shave off my beard and then let it grow and not trim it until I finish the walk, I have today shaved my beard but will reserve the decision about whether to trim or not until later.
I have a couple of photos to add to this blog at some stage but because I am on a strange computer with nobody around to help will post them later. One photo is of my mother (who is in a rest home in UK ) holding up a "wherespoppy" sign the other photo is of my granddaughter who made a wherespoppy sign out of shells on the beach. As I've said I will post these later but in the meantime I'd like to challenge everyone to see who can either get a photo of someone famous to hold up a "wherespoppy" sign or take a photo of a "wherespoppy" sign in an unusual location.
Tomorrow morning I fly to Invercargill, cross over to Stewart Island on Tuesday and start a 3 week tramp on Wednesday. I'm surprising myself about how relaxed I am about starting this new adventure. still very much looking forward to it though.
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Progress Report
All the ducks are starting to swim in a row, taking awhile to get things organised, longer than I would have thought, so just as well I'm not working!
A couple of updates on previous posts, I forgot to mention last time under Fame & Fortune that thanks to an LIC press release two provincial newspapers have printed a story about my walk, Rotorua Review and Northern Advocate. So starts the scrapbook! Have now purchased a Personal Locator Beacon for use in emergencies, hopefully that is $700 worth of equipment that will never get used. Total cost of equipment etc to date is $3522. On the other hand I suppose I could have not done the walk bought another house and spent a lot more so I figure I'm saving money.
No luck with attracting any sponsors yet but a big thank you to Janet Natta from Advice Financial who waived a $150 fee as a donation to my walk.
As I've said I have been busy this past few weeks as well as the marriage assets to be split up it has also meant a new bank account and getting a Visa Debit card so that I wont have to worry about paying a monthly account. Medical insurance has also been sorted out for the next year. Had two very long sessions on the phone with State Insurance due to the fact that I no longer fall into their preset categories, not only have I sold my home but I am putting all of my possessions into storage AND will be no fixed abode, not only that but I also have the audacity to loan my car to my daughter and her partner who will also be no fixed abode, 1.5 hours on the phone one day and another hour the next with two follow up phone calls. The first follow up phone call was to find out why I had not received an invoice in the mail as promised and the second to find out why the promised emailed replacement invoice also hadn't arrived. Can you hear the gnashing of teeth. Marilyn spent half an hour on the phone with them sorting out the insurance on her new home and then received SEVEN separate items of mail form them all on the one day a few days later.
Other things to organise have been, getting our cars put into individual ownership, visits to the lawyer for a new will and enduring power of attorney, arranging storage of all my worldly goods, selling unwanted items on Trademe, a new email address and catching up with friends for final farewells.
A new development has been the offer from a friend to stay in her home while she is Europe for 6 weeks next winter. Haven't made a final decision on that yet but will probably take it up as it would mean I wouldn't be walking for the worst part of the winter and would be a good chance to rest up.
Have borrowed a friends van and have been shifting my stuff into my storage units over the past two days, have made 5 trips so far with at least another 2 to go. Of course it's all very desirable stuff that I couldn't possibly part with! Wonder if I'll feel the same about it in a years time when I have to move it all out again?
Due to setting up a gmail email address it somehow affected me being able to enter new posts on here but seems to be sorted for now but I'm a bit worried about being able to place posts while I'm on my walk as the site doesn't allow a gmail address to be my primary address. I will need to seek some professional advice in the next few days, so hopefully you will hear from me again.
11 sleeps to go.
A couple of updates on previous posts, I forgot to mention last time under Fame & Fortune that thanks to an LIC press release two provincial newspapers have printed a story about my walk, Rotorua Review and Northern Advocate. So starts the scrapbook! Have now purchased a Personal Locator Beacon for use in emergencies, hopefully that is $700 worth of equipment that will never get used. Total cost of equipment etc to date is $3522. On the other hand I suppose I could have not done the walk bought another house and spent a lot more so I figure I'm saving money.
No luck with attracting any sponsors yet but a big thank you to Janet Natta from Advice Financial who waived a $150 fee as a donation to my walk.
As I've said I have been busy this past few weeks as well as the marriage assets to be split up it has also meant a new bank account and getting a Visa Debit card so that I wont have to worry about paying a monthly account. Medical insurance has also been sorted out for the next year. Had two very long sessions on the phone with State Insurance due to the fact that I no longer fall into their preset categories, not only have I sold my home but I am putting all of my possessions into storage AND will be no fixed abode, not only that but I also have the audacity to loan my car to my daughter and her partner who will also be no fixed abode, 1.5 hours on the phone one day and another hour the next with two follow up phone calls. The first follow up phone call was to find out why I had not received an invoice in the mail as promised and the second to find out why the promised emailed replacement invoice also hadn't arrived. Can you hear the gnashing of teeth. Marilyn spent half an hour on the phone with them sorting out the insurance on her new home and then received SEVEN separate items of mail form them all on the one day a few days later.
Other things to organise have been, getting our cars put into individual ownership, visits to the lawyer for a new will and enduring power of attorney, arranging storage of all my worldly goods, selling unwanted items on Trademe, a new email address and catching up with friends for final farewells.
A new development has been the offer from a friend to stay in her home while she is Europe for 6 weeks next winter. Haven't made a final decision on that yet but will probably take it up as it would mean I wouldn't be walking for the worst part of the winter and would be a good chance to rest up.
Have borrowed a friends van and have been shifting my stuff into my storage units over the past two days, have made 5 trips so far with at least another 2 to go. Of course it's all very desirable stuff that I couldn't possibly part with! Wonder if I'll feel the same about it in a years time when I have to move it all out again?
Due to setting up a gmail email address it somehow affected me being able to enter new posts on here but seems to be sorted for now but I'm a bit worried about being able to place posts while I'm on my walk as the site doesn't allow a gmail address to be my primary address. I will need to seek some professional advice in the next few days, so hopefully you will hear from me again.
11 sleeps to go.
Monday, 10 October 2011
(Gaining) FAME & (Costing a) FORTUNE
Meanwhile back in NZ I have been gradually getting my kit together, have now purchased 99% of my gear and am pleasantly surprised to find that by concentrating on lightweight equipment my pack only weighs 14 kg, to that I need to add about another 1kg and then food on top of that. A lot less than the 25kg I had originally thought I would have on my back. Thanks to Kirsty from Bivouac in Hamilton for her help and patience in assisting me with selecting the right equipment and for the discount for bulk buying. Only major piece of equipment I now need to buy is a Personal Locator Beacon, at $700 each I am still evaluating if I need it or not. Total spent on equipment and clothing etc so far is $2,300.
Have now decided to spend 3 weeks tramping in Stewart Island before setting off from Bluff. Will purchase
dehydrated food and gas containers for Stewart Island once I arrive in Invercargill in less than a months time.
Saturday, 1 October 2011
First Of The Summer Wine
Have just experienced a wonderfully relaxing few days in a bush clad setting with Warrick and John. Three old men with time on their hands. We were helicoptered into Te Pua Hut in the Urewera's by Robert Fleming of Waimana Helicopters in his Jet Ranger. This was only my 2nd ever flight in a helicopter. Only took 10 minutes but eliminated what would have been a 5.5 hour tramp. The hut is situated in a clearing amongst native bush with a river only metres away from the front door. On the first day I climbed one of the hills behind the hut and on the 2nd day we all did a short walk up river. Warrick and John both have health issues so were unable to do any serious walking so on the 3rd day I walked up river for 3 hours on my own, crossing and recrossing the river and soaking in the pristine atmosphere and total lack of any evidence of human activity. I would have gone further but a set of waterfalls blocked my way, I did try to climb them but was worried about slipping and how long it would be before I was found should I injure myself. I did prove to myself that I could spend time alone in a remote environment even if only for a short while.
We did see a number of different bird species but very little of each, I wonder what it would have been like prior to stoats etc. I took several photos of the endangered Blue Duck. There was a pot belly stove in the hut for which we cut wood and it very quickly had us warm and cosy each evening while we drank beer and wine and told each other stories and lies. On the first night we made a remarkable discovery, NZ is currently in the grip of Rugby World Cup fever and every man and his dog is avidly following each game. It turns out that none of the 3 of us is interested in Rugby.The only 3 guys in the whole of NZ not interested in Rugby holed up in the bush together!! On the 2nd night I casually asked Warrick how old he is. The reply staggered me, "60.................... today" Of course I had to have an extra glass of wine to help him celebrate, otherwise he was quite content to soak in the specialness of the place he has been visiting for over 30 years and, unless I had asked, not let on that it was his 60th birthday.
Luckily enough we did not see many sand flies although John did claim to have overheard two sand flies talking on the river bank:
1st Sand fly "What are we going to do with this horse now that we have caught it?
2nd Sand fly "Lets take it back to base"
1st Sand fly "No, if we do that the big guys will take it off us!
Yes a very relaxing few days, although I did get rudely disturbed on the 3rd day, I was sitting outside the hut reading and had dosed off when a helicopter flew over. That was the only sign of other humans we saw from Monday to Thursday.
Ironically after spending three days walking in a rock strewn river where I was constantly clambering over rocks and boulders and then the first day back in town I tripped over a kerb and stubbed my big toe!
For those of you who have had difficulty posting a comment on this blog I have reset one of the settings so please retry, I'd love to hear your comments.
We did see a number of different bird species but very little of each, I wonder what it would have been like prior to stoats etc. I took several photos of the endangered Blue Duck. There was a pot belly stove in the hut for which we cut wood and it very quickly had us warm and cosy each evening while we drank beer and wine and told each other stories and lies. On the first night we made a remarkable discovery, NZ is currently in the grip of Rugby World Cup fever and every man and his dog is avidly following each game. It turns out that none of the 3 of us is interested in Rugby.The only 3 guys in the whole of NZ not interested in Rugby holed up in the bush together!! On the 2nd night I casually asked Warrick how old he is. The reply staggered me, "60.................... today" Of course I had to have an extra glass of wine to help him celebrate, otherwise he was quite content to soak in the specialness of the place he has been visiting for over 30 years and, unless I had asked, not let on that it was his 60th birthday.
Luckily enough we did not see many sand flies although John did claim to have overheard two sand flies talking on the river bank:
1st Sand fly "What are we going to do with this horse now that we have caught it?
2nd Sand fly "Lets take it back to base"
1st Sand fly "No, if we do that the big guys will take it off us!
Yes a very relaxing few days, although I did get rudely disturbed on the 3rd day, I was sitting outside the hut reading and had dosed off when a helicopter flew over. That was the only sign of other humans we saw from Monday to Thursday.
Ironically after spending three days walking in a rock strewn river where I was constantly clambering over rocks and boulders and then the first day back in town I tripped over a kerb and stubbed my big toe!
For those of you who have had difficulty posting a comment on this blog I have reset one of the settings so please retry, I'd love to hear your comments.
Thursday, 22 September 2011
All Systems Are Go
The tickets are booked. Our house went unconditional yesterday so I've booked my flights to Invercargill.
Thanks to Fly Buys and Airpoints I didn't need to spend any actual money for the flights!
We move out of our home on Friday 4th November and I fly to Invercargill on Monday 7th November, next step is to book the ferry to Stewart Island for the start of a 3 day tramp. Will then cross back to Bluff and the real start of the walk.
My last day at work tomorrow Friday 23rd September, who knows when my next paid employment will be.
I am in Tauaranga all this weekend at a Postcard Fair and then tramping in the Urewera's with a work, or by then an ex, work colleague from Monday to Thursday. One of my friends asked me why I was getting helicoptered into a remote part of the Urawera's to go tramping. When I told him that you can do that sort of thing when you are retired, his response was instance, "fuck off!"
Thanks to Fly Buys and Airpoints I didn't need to spend any actual money for the flights!
We move out of our home on Friday 4th November and I fly to Invercargill on Monday 7th November, next step is to book the ferry to Stewart Island for the start of a 3 day tramp. Will then cross back to Bluff and the real start of the walk.
My last day at work tomorrow Friday 23rd September, who knows when my next paid employment will be.
I am in Tauaranga all this weekend at a Postcard Fair and then tramping in the Urewera's with a work, or by then an ex, work colleague from Monday to Thursday. One of my friends asked me why I was getting helicoptered into a remote part of the Urawera's to go tramping. When I told him that you can do that sort of thing when you are retired, his response was instance, "fuck off!"
Monday, 5 September 2011
Moving On
6th September 2011
Wadda you think of the logo? Thanks to Kerrin Meek from LIC (the company I have worked for, on and off for 40 years) for designing the logo for me from an idea suggested by my daughter Naomi. I am hoping to get this logo screen printed onto my pack and tent etc.
Well here I am 2 months later and things are now starting to happen, my last day at work is 23rd September. The good news is that, subject to a builders report, our house has sold. All going to plan we move out of our home of 13 years on 5th November. Once the house has gone unconditional (21st September) I will book flights to Invercargill for the week 8th November. My first little adventure will be to spend 3 days doing a walk on Stewart Island. The bird life there is said to be remarkable so I'm looking forward to that. Once back on the mainland the walk proper will start from Bluff.
So what have I been doing the past two months in preparation. Most weekends I have been out walking, Hamilton river walk, Te Uku wind turbine walk, Lake Karapiro, Tairu & Hikuai etc etc.
On one of the river walks I walked for 5.5 hours with 16 kg's of bricks in my pack. This led to a small incident. Half an hour before arriving back at my car I was feeling quite weary as I'd walked for 5 hours with just a 5 minute stop so decided to hide my pack behind a tree near the Hamilton East Cemetery. Later I drove back to collect it only to find lots of young people standing all over the road and I had to drive around them in order to get to where my pack was. It was dark by this time and I couldn't find the pack, thinking all sorts of bad thoughts about young people in general and that crowd in particular I moved the car closer and the headlights helped me to find the pack. When I tried to back up however my car was stuck in the wet grass and no amount of revving helped to get it out. No option but to seek help from the younger people I had only moments before had dark thoughts about. However when I walked back down the road to where they had been all their cars were still there but no sign of the people! I still have no idea where they had disappeared to in the dark. Eventually a car with three young lads appeared and they gallantly pushed me out. Lets hear it for the younger generation.
I recently purchased a book of maps showing all the camping sites in NZ which has proved invaluable in helping plan my camping spots. Thanks to all the people who have offered me accommodation, brilliant. I now have 16 different locations where I wont have to sleep in my tent.
Now that I have a tentative date for the start of the walk I can now start to approach sponsors for equipment and storage. I will also now record regular updates on this blog. Speak to you again soon.
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