Epilogue   I woke up Monday, April 22, 2019, in Taupo slightly dreading the day as this was technically the final day of my trek. I had sadly broken down my Wheelie and had everything packed in two duffel bags and the backpack.   Brian and Shirley picked me up around 10:00 am and I …

Continue reading New Zealand / Epilogue

Taupo (Zero Days) It’s Sunday, and to be honest, I was dreading this blog, as it signifies the end of my trek and I really don’t want it to end! After contemplating the concern for my knee, and especially the danger of heavy traffic and the road for this Easter weekend, I made the decision …

Continue reading New Zealand, Day 69, 70, 71, and 72, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 18, 19, 20, and 21.

Taupo (Zero Day) I had a great night’s sleep and it was one of those mornings when I woke from a deep sleep and didn’t know where I was for a few moments. Last night I ended up booking my room for another night, and taking a zero day, because I wanted to make sure …

Continue reading New Zealand, Day 68, Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Motitere Bay to Taupo (16.05 miles/25.84 kms) I am so glad I stopped here yesterday and spent the night. I knew the dangerous section of highway was ahead when I stopped yesterday, but I didn’t realize it was less than a half mile from where I stopped. Had I not stopped there I would have …

Continue reading New Zealand, Day 67, Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Turangi to Motitere Bay (13.5 miles/21.73 kms) Today was a very rewarding day, I found $3.20, a two dollar coin and a twenty cent coin. Ok, not a big thing but the mystery of why I am finding all these coins on the highway baffles me? I walked over fourteen hundred miles from my house …

Continue reading New Zealand, Day 66, Monday, April 15, 2019

Waiouru Desert Road/Turangi (22.41 miles/36.07 kms) Woke to a crisp morning but not to bad at only 42 degrees, as it was colder last night when I went to sleep. The sky was clear and not a cloud in the sky and the mountain tops looked beautiful with the sprinkling of snow. It had been …

Continue reading New Zealand, Day 65, Sunday, April 14, 2019

Waiouru to Desert Road (18.87 miles/30.38 kms) What a crazy day as the weather and terrain was all over the place. I left this morning around 8:00, after saying goodbye to Ross and thanking him for the great tour and information he gave me yesterday. I had expected cold weather and I put on another …

Continue reading New Zealand, Day 64, Saturday, April 12, 2019

Waiouru (Zero Day 2) Today’s zero day was not even a question as it not only rained hard all night long but I could hear the wind gusting and pushing the rain against the window. I woke at my usual time and it was still pouring, so I just went back to sleep. Even when …

Continue reading New Zealand, Day 63, Friday, April 12, 2019

Waiouru (Zero Day) I wasn’t very happy last night as I found my room rather below standard. The worse of any place I’ve stayed and it felt dirty. The towels were old and even frayed on the edges, and when I went to bed, the pillows, bed or blankets smelled like body oil. I don’t …

Continue reading New Zealand, Day 62, Thursday, April 11, 2019

Taihape to Waiouru (17.89 miles/28.80 kms) It turned out to be a very challenging day today. I started out the door about 8:00 knowing it was going to be a challenging day with lots of steep climbs. Bob, the manager, had wanted to take me past the steepest section and the top, about four miles …

Continue reading New Zealand, Day 61, Wednesday, April 10, 2019