“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

Ocean Beach 371km to Mangawhai 442km (day 23-27) Northland keeps putting on it’s charms for us. The weather has now shot through to mid-20’s, and we are walking along or past more stunning beaches. It’s definitely a region we will come back to spend more time in. Due to my birthday, and our proximity to the champion small brewery, we made some adjustments to our … Continue reading Beaches and beers

“Woke up and smiled this morning. Wishes swam like fishes in my head. I rub my eyes as all the reasons chased the demons from my bed. I’m on top of the world, but it’s just for a moment.” ( The Lightening Seeds – Open goals) We watched the All Blacks semi-final with a guy named Fish. We arrived at his place in the tiny … Continue reading A Fish called Kevin

Kerikeri 224km to Ocean Beach 371km (day 12 to 21) Now things started to change. Yes, we may have got a bit fitter, but the trail also got a bit kinder. And wow, the people of Northland came to the fore. Also, the subliminal, subconscious, unconscious thoughts about keeping up, doing x km per day, walking every single step started to fade. This was our … Continue reading Nice Northland

“This ain’t no upwardly mobile freeway. Oh no, this is the road. This is the road. This is the road to hell. ( Chris Rea – Road to Hell ) Walking on State Highway 1 has never been on my bucket-list. Nevertheless here I was, trudging up the Mangamuka Gorge on SH1 facing oncoming traffic which varied between logging trucks, other heavy haulage trucks and … Continue reading Road to Hell

“I am a passenger. And I ride and I ride. I ride through the city’s backside. I see the stars come out of the sky.” (Iggy Pop – Passenger) Eagle-eyed readers of this blog may have already spotted her. And to some extent most trips have that person whose whole is strangely equal to the sum of their parts. In our case it’s Wanda, a … Continue reading Introducing Wanda

After a couple of days rest, we felt ready for the next chapter, Kaitaia to Keri Keri, another 100km+ stretch, through a couple of Northland’s forests. Sounded like a plan, especially once we decided to avoid a famed 15km section which was now knee deep in mud. We learnt a lot in the next 5 days! The letter ‘R’ featured a lot. Relentless, river (of … Continue reading Kauri Forest Odyssey

You spend months researching, and imagining, but it still takes your breath away. Cape Reinga must be about the most iconic start to a walk possible. The sheer scale, isolation and wild beauty is breath-taking. Then overlay the spirituality – letting go of the old life, and remembering your loved ones. Powerful. Then start walking south. The enormity of the vista, plus the chosen path … Continue reading Mighty mile beach