Tuesday 17th NovFirst milestone has been reached where I have walked through Northland and made it to the Auckland region over the last few days. Reflecting on Northland I think it certainly has prepared me for the long walk ahead over the rest of the country as it has presented some very challenging walking - the very long beach walking where water was a huge planning consideration, the steep and muddy forests where physical fitness is a huge factor, and then the isolation and remote sections where being comfortable with your own company helps - plus music!
Highlights of Northland for me were the jaw dropping views, catching up with family in Whangarei, and meeting the Te Araroa founder Geoff Chapple randomly along the Mangawhai Cliffs walkway. Walking into Auckland on Sunday was literally walking out of the bush back at Okura in the morning and into the bright evening lights of the city at 10pm. The ferry ride from Devenport that night was a sense of achievement and satisfaction that I had completed a whole region. For daily notes of the walking to date - check out the 'Daily Diary' tab in this blog. The next few days I will be taking some time out from walking for family time and attending a funeral and will commence walking again on Thursday from Mercer. I will loop back to complete the Auckland City to Mercer section in April after Stewart Island.
9 Comments
Irene Dietrich
19/11/2015 11:21:56 pm
Hey Sophia.
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Sophia
27/11/2015 10:25:52 am
Yes it was fantastic to meet Geoff. All is going well in the next section through the Waikato. Very green and lush.
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Jo
25/11/2015 10:47:40 pm
Soph - what an amazing first month.. looking forward to your next posting. Jo x
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Sophia
27/11/2015 10:29:32 am
Hi Jo. Now in the Waikato and has been a bit of a social time too catching up with people. Caught up with the Daily Notes blog so have got more updates there now. Hope all good in Wellington too. Sophia
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Teresa Hutchins
29/11/2015 07:40:29 pm
Hi Soph,
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Sophia
3/12/2015 05:23:59 pm
Hiya Teresa - yep getting there gradually. Has been epic so far and only 1/3 of the way there now that I have gone through the Pureroa Forest so not sure what the other 2/3rds have in store for me. Sophia xx
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Nic
2/12/2015 03:14:25 pm
Fantastic milestone Sophia! I'm curious - while you're walking do you listen to music as well? What are you listening to?
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Sophia
3/12/2015 05:48:42 pm
Hi there Nic. Yep music is with me and I've gone through phases of listening every day to every now and again when spirits need lifting or I need a distraction from the slog of walking. I've got everything from '50's rock and roll to Beau Monga (NZ XFactor) and current favourite is Justin Timberlake but I'm not really bringing the sexy back that he sings of with my recent muddy climbs.
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carl
9/12/2015 07:34:52 am
Where are you now ?
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HelloI'm Sophia Lewis and 2015 is the year I am going to commence walking the NZ Te Araroa Trail. This blog will track my progress from Cape Reinga to Bluff + Stewart Island. I start walking on the 23rd Oct and plan to finish mid April. Archives
April 2016
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