manawatu Day 403: Palmerston North Highlight:Today I connected the dots on my Te Araroa Journey. I hadn't organized any accommodation. I'll just get to Kahuterawa Road when I do and then go from there.
manawatu Day 402: Feilding Highlight:John, Ronda, Eden and Josh welcomed me into their home. After a hot shower (3 showers in 3 days), a spider removal, we had a yummy home cooked meal,
manawatu Day 401: Bulls Highlight: The local trail angel in bulls was away, the other one was on the way into town (which I had already walked past). I headed for the Holiday park
manawatu Day 400: Koitiata Highlight: Today I put on clean clothes! That is clothes washed in a washing machine and lined dried. What a treat. I had desired washing before getting on the river,
manawatu Day 399: Whanganui Journey (5) Highlight: It was so nice to reach Whanganui today! To know I would reach Rob and George and cross over with Trents trip. 7 days ago when I was so
manawatu Day 398: Whanganui Journey (4) Highlight: After the big day yesterday, we were in no hurry to head of today. We make the most of the facilitates and dried out the rest of the gear.
manawatu Day 397: Whanganui Journey (3) Highlight:Today's camp was a private establishment rather than DoC. It was equipt with outside kitchen, shower, table.. even wifi. And, what we would find out before the sun rises,
manawatu Day 396: Whanganui Journey (2) Highlight:With a relativity short day of travel (5 hours) compared with the 10-12hr I had done in the days previous. We arrived at our destination before 4pm. It was
manawatu Day 395: Whanganui Journey (1) Highlight: The joys of river life. A slow morning packing my bag before the Blue Duck cafe opened at 8am. Coffee with bacon & eggs, and utilized the wifi to
manawatu Day 394: Rētāruke River Highlight:Do you want a ride?No thank you, I can't.Can't was probably not the right word. I could, but I didn't want to. I had started something on
manawatu Day 393: National Park Highlight:Te Araroa follows the Round the Mountain track towards Whakapapaiti. There wera a few trampers along here and I can generally pick their intentions. Day walker - small bag
manawatu Day 392: Tongariro Alpine Crossing Highlight: Quiet. So quiet. After hanging out at Ketetahi in the afternoon and then walking in the opposite direction from the stream of people completing the crossing. The contrast with
manawatu Day 101: Whakapapa to Tongariro Holiday Park Woke up late, and checked out around 10:00. The lady that runs the camp site and checked me into a cabin last night, also does a food-truck. I thought
manawatu Day 100: National Park village to Whakapapa It was a miserable weather day. I thought it wise to just get through to Whakapapa village today, some 20 or so km. Logistically the only option beyond that would
manawatu Day 99: Kaitieke to National Park village I got up around 11:00, let the tent dry completely before packing everything away. It is only another short day through to National Park village today. It was to
manawatu Day 98: Whakahoro to Kaitieke Right next door to the Whakahoro campsite, is the Blue Duck café. We be glamping again boiii. I walked across the road at 10:30 and settled in for brekkie.
manawatu Day 97: Pipiriki to Whakahoro The day started with a nice little jet boat ride up the Whanganui. Present on the sides of the river, are some bluffs which show the recent line that the
manawatu Day 96: Ātene to Pipiriki A very lazy morning, I really wanted to dry the tent off before packing it up. This was easier said than done. It was nearing 11:00 before I started
manawatu Day 95: Whanganui to Ātene Before I was allowed to leave in the morning, I was fattened on some breakfast courtesy of my man George. Rob had provided me with some information last night about
manawatu Day 94: Koitiata to Whanganui Got up this morning, John was getting ready for work, so I cut him up some fruit salad for breakfast before leaving. A little more beach to be walked before
manawatu Day 93: Bulls to Koitiata Another day of walking the road, but thankfully there will be a change in track at some point when I reach the coast; then I'll get to trade tar-seal for
manawatu Day 92: Feilding to Bulls John dropped me off in the morning where he'd picked me up. I hope that I get to see him again in 4 years when he and Eden are out
manawatu Day 91: Palmerston North to Feilding While in the CBD, I thought it would be an opportune time to get a haircut. Unfortunately, being a Saturday, no barbers opened until 10:00. I told Mark I
manawatu Day 90: Kahuterawa Reserve to Palmerston North (and Hamilton) Last day together on the trail with my lovely Emma. Quite somber. I'd need to inherit a lot of shared gear... cooker, pot, first-aid, PLB, filter, etc. I also would
manawatu Day 89: Tokomaru shelter to Kahuterawa Reserve Highlight: Well we got here sooner than anticipated. *1500km point marks half way in terms of distance in 2016. We have reason to believe the numbers don't stack up currently,