2011-2012 has been an emotional 12 months for us

We became kiwi citizens. Our kids, Ben and Beth survived the Christchurch earthquakes. I lost my mum and brother, Brian, to cancer in the same week. We sold our outdoor activity business in Hanmer Springs that we had run for ten years. We ran the Forest Camp as managers and we will celebrate 30 years of marriage.

It has been a time of intense emotions and hard work but a great network of friends and family has supported us.

Losing Brian at the age of 60 has convinced me that we have to “live life for today”. With that in mind Steve and I have decided that the best way to celebrate surviving, being kiwis and the “life of Brian” is to walk the length of New Zealand. Now here is the irony, Brian would be convinced that we are finally, totally and unreservedly barking mad!

Thanks to Ben and Beth for their support to let us go, to Sharon and Serge our Hanmer backstops and to Shalane for inspiration.

Follow us on our journey – meet us on the way with tea and scones, walk a section with us, join us for a beer or just support our cause and donate to Cancer research!

Feel free to add comments to our blog below, just click on "comments" below the blog entry and write in the box then add your name or be anonymous!!

Tuesday 30 October 2012

Across Auckland and the Hunuas!
We said a fond farewell to Penny and Frank - thanks for all your support guys! Across on the Devonport ferry to walk the Coast to Coast! A great walk across the city through Parks, over extinct volcanoes to the summit of Mt Eden which for once we shared with swarms of tour bus visitors. The views of the city were amazing - what a diverse walk the Te Araroa is.
 We crossed over to West Coast over the old Onehunga bridge and through to the Ambury Regional Park - a reclaimed haven for birds and shellfish. Past the Stone fields and the airport for a very noisy section on the road but a great finish to the day at the Botanical gardens.
A thankfully dry river crossing in the Hunuas.
The next day was our earliest start yet at 5.45am but only to miss the AKL traffic with our drop off. So we made it to Clevedon before lunch which is a charming little village nestled in the foothills of the Hunuas.
Through the Hunuas passing 3 reservoirs, Aucklands water supply. Reminded us of the reservoirs in the Peak District in UK. ( Don't worry not getting homesick!!) Through the Hunuas on a range of benched, gnarly, unfrequented tracks that were yet again a challenge. By no means a stroll in the Regional Park! 
Many thanks to Jill at Twilight Hill for her drop offs support and donation.
We made it through drained farmalnd and very curious dairy herds and onto SH 1 and Mercer where we were greeted by the Yellow Towers of McDonalds and a motorway service area!!. Another Te Araroa experience. Looking forward to Waikato river and onto Hamilton. 700kms done.......2300 to go. Yee ha.
For all you geographers out there we came across an Archimedes Screw yesterday so there is a little bit of homework for you!!
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