Coquille Bay to Tonga Quarry ~30 K After the emotional and mental fatigue yesterday, we sleep the sleep of the satisfied without an alarm set. I wake up with the light, but doze on and off and just appreciate the sensation of existing in a painting. I love camping on the beach! The sound and …
Month: January 2018
1/16 The Golden Coast
Circle Loop Track to Pelorus Bridge 1.6 K Pelorus Bridge to Motueka: hitching Motueka to Marahua: bus Abel Tasman: Marahua to Coquille Bay 3 K We wake up early and already warm, and as we are drinking our coffee a truck drives up the other side of the field. Immediately assuming we must be in …
1/15 Green Lips and a Decision to Detour
Davies Bay to Circle Loop Track 40 k There was some kind of possum standoff last night, and our tent was in between the two opponents. They made the nastiest sounds, something between a mountain lion scream and a rattlesnake vibrating. It was a warm clammy night, and the morning isn’t any cooler. We walk …
1/14 To Stink or Not To Stink- That Is Subjective
Bay of Many Coves Campsite to Davies Bay Campsite 31 k I awoke at the wee hour of 10:30pm to Prana shining his flashlight through the tent screen, spotlighting a possum frozen in mid-rummage of his pack. The possum seemed rather unabashed, I thought, for being caught red-handed. He languidly blinked, and blinked again, and …
Continue reading 1/14 To Stink or Not To Stink- That Is Subjective
1/13 Along Queen Charlotte Sound
School House Bay to Bay of Many Coves Campsite 29 k I am so ready to hike! I feel fantastic after our day of mental rest yesterday. The Weka friends are wading in the ocean’s edge when I wander down this morning. We start hiking early to a great temperature. The trail is well graded, …
1/12 Schoolhouse Bay
Layover day at Schoolhouse Bay Another layover day? you may be thinking. Yes. The on-trail layover day. It’s a rarely-implemented practice, unfortunately. In the right place, it is pure magic. School House Bay is a right place. We don’t see anyone all day. I catch up on every single one of my journal entries. We …
1/11 The Island of The Greenstone Water
Wellington to School House Bay Across Cook Strait on ferry, 3.2 k hiking The morning comes quickly, and we have coffee and a great chat with Anna and then with her roommates. What a wonderful start to the day! Miche has agreed to give us a ride to the ferry, which allows us to linger …
1/10 One Island Down, One To Go
Te Ahumairangi to The End of The North Island 18 K Our tent spot worked perfectly, and we arise this morning to the 5:30 alarm to ensure we aren’t noticed or disturbing anyone. We can see out over the ocean and port; we are so close to both and never realized it yesterday. We plan …
1/9 Into Wellington
Amethyst Lodge to Te Ahumairangi Park 27 k It’s both a drag and a relief to be leaving the room today. It has been the perfect room to recharge in, and there is plenty I could still do with some down time. However, each day in a row off the trail will exponentially compound the …
1/8 Postal Relay, Ostrich Answers.
Layover at Amethyst Motor Lodge I tossed and turned for awhile last night, unable to fall asleep initially, and wake up full of awareness for what all needs completed today. I make coffee and type until I can’t ignore our pile of resupply components any longer. I count and divide and figure and heft until …
muddy shoe memoirs 