-
Road Trip: The Grand Canyon and Glen Canyon
This post is the first part of a two month road trip I took around The States. September 2017 I got the family discount, even though I wasn’t exactly family. Ross and I had known each other since we were ten, having moved to Big Bear the same year, and given each other shit for our entire acquaintance…so in a way we were absolutely family. I hadn’t been to the Grand Canyon since I was three and didn’t have the keenest memory of the experience. In fact, I remembered absolutely nothing other than a story mum told about how I nearly gave her a heart attack by climbing up the…
-
Te Araroa: The Whanganui River Journey
03.12.2019 Day 44 (5km) Due to a very rainy and miserable weather forecast, I spent today changing all my plans. I didn’t see the point in hiking through thick mud and climbing a mountain I’ve been dying to see, only to not be able to see it. So, I elected to do the canoeing portion of the TA first, then backtrack to do the Tongariro crossing. I did make a point of walking to the canoe hire, which is part of the trail, so it wasn’t a complete rest day. Day’s Highlights: Awesome hitch back to the Holiday Park 04.12.2019 Day 45 (33km kayak) Today was an absolute blast! In…
-
Te Araroa: Roads
15.11.2019 Day 26 (8km kayak, 25km hike) Emotionally, this was the most difficult day thus far. It’s gotten me thinking about how I want to and why I am doing this hike. Up until today road walks were manageable, now I never want to see another road. Anyways, I’m getting ahead of myself. It was an easy start from Puhoi; I got to sleep in, have a cup or three of coffee, and casually stroll down to the kayak hire along the river. The 8km stretch of river wound its way through peaceful farmland and past the main highway south. The water transformed from murky brown to clear turquoise as…
-
Te Araroa: Northern Trail Magic
1.11.19 Day 12 (0km) My body was so grateful for a rest day. I slept in, resupplied, and hung out in the hot tub at my hostel, Centabay. It was definitely worth the extra day of walking to take a break in Paihia. Although the town was smaller than Kerikeri, it was absolutely beautiful, with beach views and the calming hush of waves. 2.11.2019 Day 13 (17km Kayaking, 15km hike) Today was magical! I had heard about trail magic before I started the trip, people going out of their way to be kind and help arriving when you need it most. Well, today was my first experience with it. On…
Insights and Stories Through the Eyes of a Wanderer
