Tuesday 25 December 2012

Seasons Greetings from Te Araroa trail!

Greetings friends and fellow Nature Trackers!
We are now 650 km's into the journey, and enjoying 3 days with family over Xmas.
For 3 days we are eating more calories than we are burning. Go figure.

My personal blister count is now up to 9.
8 have dried and are dormant, with just one active.
Aches and pains come and go. But over all, adapting nicely.

Some not so good news:  Brother Beni has had to pull out for good, due to a torn cartilage in his left knee. His spirit will be missed very much.
Pictures below:

Sarn crossing one of the many streams along the coast. Some, we have had to time for low tide to be able to get across.
















Beautiful tropical forest walking north of Auckland.
















Like the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails, the Te Araroa Trail occasionally passes through private lands.

















Moments like these will be remembered forever...
Being invited in for a hot cup of Italian style coffee and sweet treats. Yummm...
















Canoeing a 5 mile stretch of river.

















The trail goes right through Auckland...New Zealand's largest city of 1.3 million.
About one fourth of all New Zealander's live here.
















As we leave Northland and head into the central part of the North Island, we take with us some very fond memories of the country side and more importantly, the people we have met along the way, that have opened their hearts and homes to us. As I reflect more on that, I will dedicate the next blog to those who have touched our lives. You too will one day want to meet them.
Until then, may the season be full of good memories!

Saturday 15 December 2012

Food Glorous Food

Trail food?  What can I say!!

The never ending hunger we experience along the trail....It motivates...it inspires...and it fuels. We actually burn more calories than we take in every day.

Breakfast:  Dry cereal with chia seed. Coffee/tea.

Lunch:        Bread/crackers with tuna  or cheese.

Dinner:       Rice/pasta with tuna or salmon.

Dessert:      Honey on crackers...(we can't forget Dessert!)

Snacks:       Energy bars, chocolate and gorp.

Occasionally the menu changes...(fish & chips and a yummy ice cream when the opportunity
arises...if the trail wanders through a camp ground or small town).


1) The forest streams of the Northland are so beautiful and tranquil.
    We hiked over 3 miles through this stream heading for the coast.



2) One of the many coastal campsites...can you see how we dry out our socks?



3) The National Geographic Society calls this coastline #2 in the world for its beauty.






4)  We walked over this bridge known as The Whananaki Footbidge...a 350meter/ 1,050 foot marvel...It is the longest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.



5) View looking north from the Headlands of Whangarei (pronounced Fong-a-ray). A very steep climb in very hot sun.





Question?  What is the national bird of New Zealand?



In the upcoming blogs I will discuss the gear we are carrying and some of the people we have met along the way.

Sunday 9 December 2012

Several days have passed since we started our long journey. Between the 3 of us we have accumilated thus far, a total of eleven blisters. Unfortunately for me I have seven of them. On top of that I almost lost the toe nail from my little toe on my left foot. I had to take a couple of days rest to heal and the good news is the blisters have dried and the toe nail looks like it will live on. What next as we brake our bodies in to all day hiking with full packs?

Kauri Forest. These trees are native to New Zealand and have an incredible history worthy of exploring. The Kauri tree is second only in size to the mighty Redwoods in the USA.



 

 
We hiked in steady rain for a few days and most things we had in our packs became damp.
 
Beni is holding a species of the largest insect in the world. They get bigger than this one.
Can you name the insect?
 


 

 
As we make our way south east to the Bay of Islands we are warmly greeted with sunshine.
Sarn and Beni making friends.
 


 

 
We pass this historical stone building. The oldest of its kind in the country.
Worhty of exploring its colorful history.
 
This is a Maori Pa. A meeting house on the grounds where the "Treaty of Waitangi" was signed.
 
Unlike other countries, New Zealand does not have a constitution in the form of a single document. The Treaty of Waitangi is a founding document of New Zealand.  The Treaty consists of 3 articles.   All but one of these copies is written in longhand, and only one is in English. The structure of each follows a similar pattern, but the wording differs.
 
It is a collection of common laws, customs, and legislation, that establish a framework of government, entered into by representatives of the British Crown and Maori iwi (tribes) and hapu (sub-tribes). 
 
It is named after the place in the Bay of Islands where the Treaty was first signed on February 6, 1840. This date is known as Waitangi Day, a public holiday in New Zealand.
 
The Treaty was the initial agreement that established British authority.  This authority was later transferred to the New Zealand Parliment. It was a broad statement of principals upon which the British Officials & Maori Chiefs made a political covenant to found a nation state and build a government in New Zealand.
 
Based on the English Version & Maori translation, there are different understandings of the Treaty, and have long been the subject of debate.
 
The status of the Treaty has evolved over time.  In recent history, successive governments have recognized the significance of the Treaty in the life of the Nation.
 
 
 
 
 
Check out the detailed hand carvings and designs in the wood that make up the meeting house.
 


 

 
Next time I will discuss the types of food we eat along the trail.
 
 
 
 

Monday 3 December 2012




Looking down the ninety mile beach to the south. An arduous 3 to 4 day walk.




Beni and Sarn walking in step, mile, after mile, after mile...


 


A large variety of life exists along this stretch of ocean.
Can you name the different types of shell fish?





Sunday 2 December 2012



Finally, after all the buildup, preparation and excitement...the time has come to hit the Te Araroa Trail!
We started Nov 30, one day sooner than expected. The weather forecast looked great for the next 3 days, so we did not hesitate.
This photo shows me standing at Cape Reinga, the far northern tip of New Zealand, where the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea meet.