The beach begins. Day 5 twilight to the bluff

We woke up early, ate breakfast and began to walk down twilight beach. We walked to the southern end up the steps to the campsite there only to find our friends nick and Mel! They had again managed in one ride what took is several and were able to get to Reinga earlier than us the day before. We began to walk with them, grateful for the company.

 The first hills from twilight over to 90-mile had some challenge, but when we summited the last of them and looked down at the beach that stretched well beyond the horizon, even from above, I think we all realized what we were in for. 

We went down to the beach, and we walked. 8km later we took lunch at te paki stream.

 20km after that we got to the bluff campsite. This was my first 20+ mile day in years and I had forgotten how hard they are! My entire body is exhausted and I'm sunburned from the beach. I'm grateful to have Manja walking with me, I don't think either of us would have done so well alone. Makes me realize how our abilities are amplified when we work together. Nick and Mel still haven't made it to the bluff, I hope they do and I will see them in the morning!

Knockin on heavens door, day 4, pukenui to twilight beach

Manja and I got up fairly early and began to try to get a ride out of pukenui to Reinga. We got as far as te kao, and began to walk the road. We then got picked up and brought to a campsite where we were reunited with nick and Mel! They told us they had gotten there on a single ride yesterday. It had taken us more than 10. >.<. We continued to walk north and let them hitch from the campsite. 7 km of hot, hilly Tarmac later we were finally piked up by a nice young couple who seemed equally shocked it had taken is that long to get a ride.

We rode to Reinga where we were awe struck by the end of the earth. Massive waves far off shore showed where the Pacific Ocean collided with the Tasman sea creating huge whirlpools. We sat at the point where Maori believe souls depart on their journeys across the ocean. I knew that my journey was about to begin.

 We walked downhill to our first beach and I put my hand in the Tasman sea for the first time.

 We then climbed over a short but hot pass through sand dunes 

down onto secluded twilight beach, one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.

 We set up camp and went for a swim in the sea. When our hot feet were cooled enough, we made dinner and watched the sunset over the waves as we listened to music.

Then the mosquitoes came out and we want to bed because mosquitoes are the worst things ever. Today was an incredible start to what I'm sure will be a long and difficult journey. I may have gone a bit overboard with the pictures today, but I think it was worth it!

Day 3, Auckland-pukenui

I left Auckland early this morning to catch the bus to kaitaia by Kerikeri. I arrived a couple minutes after boarding began and by the time that I boarded there were no rows left empty. The man next to me had his bags on the seat, but the woman in front of him had a seat free. This is how I met Manja.

 She's German from Dresden, and she was also hiking TA. We began talking on the bus and we decided to make our two solo walks together for the time being. After a stop and Kerikeri we boarded the bus for kaitaia where I began talking with Ruben, a local who let me know several of the wild edibles in the region and were the est peach trees on the track would be. He got off before Kaitaia, and this is how  we met Nick and Mel. 

They are couple doing parts of TA together, so we begin to chat with them about gear and routes until the bus stopped in kaitaia. We walked together to the end of town where we split up our pairs to try to hitch to Reinga that night. Manja and I made it as far as pukenui when we were hitching and a nice woman asked us if we like a bit of work and a place to stay for the night. We quickly agreed and set to work separating and bagging mussels for a few hours. After work we sat and got some beer from and with our new friends and set up our tents in the back yard. Manja and I cooked a stew inside and got some great brandy an wine from our hosts!

 We went to bed that night tired, but ready for Reinga in the morning!

Everyone's a teacher

Day 2

Still in Auckland today. I went out and applied for visa extension and picked up some last minute items that I needed, including a phone adapter and a knee brace. I went to the supermarket with Matthias and got entirely too much food, i'm pretty sure I could last for 6 days off this instead of 4.

 I went for a walk on Queen st, where I noticed a store called the Whiskey Shop that had the same logo and name as one of my favorite pubs in Edinburgh. I went in to peruse their selections, and while I didn't find the malt I was looking for, I did introduce myself to Bart who owned the place and had a fantastic idea. He was interested in my treck and wanted to keep updated, so he told me to post to the Whiskey shop's facebook wall. He then gave me the idea that hopefully some people will read it, see where I am and if i'm near their town I can stop by a pub and grab a whiskey with them. To me it sounds perfect! A great way to meet many new people, see nice towns and share some good drinks with friends. After all, what's travelling for if not meeting new friends? Matthias and I were talking tonight at dinner that we had to celebrate his new job and my departure about something like that. In a way, i'm out here going to World University and everyone that I meet has the ability to teach me a course. So here's to the lessons that I've already learned, and to the teachers I have yet to meet!

I'll be getting on the bus to Kaitaia tomorrow early in the morning and plan to spend the night in town before hitching up to Cape Reinga on Friday where I will begin my walk down 90-mile Beach to Ahipara. I will be out of contact for a few days after Kaitaia in the bush, but I plan to write every day with updates of some thoughts when I can get back into service. Packing tonight and the real adventure begins in the morning!

Auckland day one

Holy shit.

I'm in nz. I arrived early this morning in Auckland just before 9 AM.

Caught the bus into town and walked to the hostel. I get up to my room and lo and behold I'm rooming with the only American in the place the 28-year-old from Nebraska named Mattias.

I asked  him some questions about where to get which and find out Queen Street is where it's all at. After an hour's or so of rest an organizing things I walked down the Queen Street to get my supplies. I got some lunch and walk back to the hostel.

 I met up with Mattias and went out for an afternoon drink where we met his Japanese friend Yasu. We all sat at the waterfront on the bay for a few hours talking about what brought us all here. Fate and serendipity  came up a number of times. At the end of the day I don't know why I'm here, but I do know that I need to be. 'Not all who wander are lost' my new friends are evidence in support of that statement. Time for an adventure.

Goodbye Utah!

Going to the airport now, excited nervous and ready to start an adventure! Tomorrow I'll be in warm sunny Auckland nz getting ready for my trip! I feel like I already have too much gear, Auckland is going to be hectic trying to get everything done in 2 days. Can't wait!

See ya later Utah, it's been fun!

(There told you there would be photos Emily haha)

Prep

Tomorrow I take off for NZ. I've been packing prepping and getting planned for the last few weeks, hopefully I have it all ready! I'm posting this as a test and also to let my gear head friends know what i've got with me

Lowa Renegade II Boots
4 pairs midweight REI merino hiking socks
3 pair liner socks
Patagonia MicroPuff midlayer
Arc'teryx Theta AR shell
Columbia hiking shirt
OR running shirt
MSR 6L bladder with hose
OR spring bugnet
Nemo GoGo Ex tent
Thermarest ProLite Plus pad
REI Expdedition -20 Down bag
2 Sea to Summit Medium Event fabric stuff sacks
GoalZero solar charger with Guide10 plus charger
Compass
Light first aid kit
OR Gaiters
OR gloves
iPod and headphones
Kuhl zip off pants
1 nalgene
toiletries kit
Garmin eTrex GPS
33 below base layers merino wool midweight
slumberjack camp pillow
SteriPen water filter and SteriPen
Aquamira chemical water treatment
Whisperlite international stove system with MSR fuel canister
Ziploc bags and a couple of books.
Hopefully it'll all fit in my Osprey aether 70!



I'm excited for the trip, tons of things are going through my mind. But for now, i've got to go pack this all up and finish getting everything out of my house! Keep here for updates on where I am and where i'm going, hopefully i'll be able to upload some photos here too! If you want to get in touch with me in the next few months Facebook or email will be the easiest way. Next time I post I'll be in New Zealand!!

If you want to know anything about the trail and the route i'll be taking you can check out the official website here http://www.teararoa.org.nz/ I'll be starting at Cape Reinga going Southbound

-Ben