I know we’re headed somewhereI can see how far we’ve comeBut still I can’t remember anythingLet’s not do the wrong thingAnd I’ll swear it might be funIt’s a long way downWhen all the knots we’ve tied have come undone. Anywhere you go, I’ll follow you downAnyplace but those I know by heartAnywhere you go, I’ll follow you down. (The Gin Blossoms – Follow you down) … Continue reading TA Interrupted
“And so it was, that later, as the miller told his tale. That her face,at first just ghostly, turned a whiter shade of pale.” Mountain bikers often speak in hushed tones when talking about riding the Old Ghost Trail, and it was with a fair amount of trepidation that I agreed to walk its lofty peaks and exposed ridges. We were full of confidence having … Continue reading Walking the “Ghost”
“There is freedom within, there is freedom without. Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup.There’s a battle ahead, many battles are lost. But you’ll never see the end of the road while you’re travelling with me. Hey now, hey now. Don’t dream it’s over. ” ( Crowded House – Don’t dream it’s over) But it sort of is. The dream/goal of a 3000 … Continue reading Don’t dream it’s over
Won’t you tell me what the Wisemen said? When they came down from Heaven, smoked nine ‘till seven, all the shit that they could find. But they couldn’t escape from you, couldn’t be free of you and now they know there’s no way out. And they’re really sorry now for what they’ve done. They were just three Wise Men trying to have some fun. Look … Continue reading Wisemen
” I walk a lonely road. The only one I have ever known. Don’t know where it goes. But its only me, and I walk alone.” ( Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams.) Except I do not. Every step of the way, Kath has been beside me. Part of the marvel that is our journey on the Te Araroa is that our relationship has … Continue reading North Island wrap-up
” I see trouble up ahead. Where the riverboat swayed beneath the sun is when the river runs red. Like a king who stalks the wings and shoots a dove. And frees an eagle instead. Its more or less the same as the things that you said. ( Ocean Colour Scene – Riverboat Song) I probably should have opted for the Bee Gees’ “Islands in … Continue reading Islands in the stream
“When the day that lies ahead of me, seems impossible to face. When someone else instead of me, always seems to know the way. Then I look at you and the world’s alright with me. Just one look at you. And I know it’s going to be a lovely day.” (Bill Withers/ Skip Scarborough – Lovely Day) If the Timber Trail was likened to a … Continue reading A lovely day
“When your day is long. And the night, the night is yours alone. When you’re sure you’ve had enough of this hike. Well hang on. Don’t let yourself go, ’cause everybody cries. And everybody hurts sometimes.” (REM – Everybody Hurts) As camping grounds go, this was a doozy. “Camp in the beer garden of a pub” they said, and who was I to argue. And … Continue reading Everybody hurts
“He felt no sense of loss, just like a mountain climber looking back having made it across, the steepest face. And he’s still climbing, see him try and cross the street. He tests his footing, like he was up 10,000 feet, above the clouds, half-way down Dominion Road.” (The Mutton Birds – Dominion Road) We were grateful to get a lift the last few kilometers … Continue reading Deliverance II to Auckland
“I have climbed highest mountains. I have run through the fields. Only to be with you.” (U2 – I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.) Except I haven’t. Climbed mountains, that is. Not really. We have struggled up some precipices that barely exceed 400 meters above sea level but at some point we will have to scale Stag Saddle in the Two Thumb range … Continue reading Northland Highlights
