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!

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