Well, since completing the Herekino Forest, I made the call to leave the trail and get my knee looked at - it simply was too painful to walk and I didn't want to risk further injury. This was a heartbreaking decision, but the right one. I managed to walk from "Tramp Inn" to the forestry … Continue reading Unexpected and Undesired End for the 2017/18 Attempt

Waking naturally at 6:10am?!? I stretched my legs in bed to get a feel for any pain. Not feeling too bad, I jumped up and started readying myself for a day back on the trail! I took extra caution to bandage my two remaining blisters and used hikers wool around the old now healed ones. … Continue reading Day 10 – Herekino Forest

Not too much has been going on these past few days. I've been keeping my feet elevated, soaking regularly in Chlorhexidine (a fancy anti-bacterial soap) and consuming my antibiotics according to instruction - all while trying to keep patient and not bored out of my mind. Luckily there is some good news to report. My … Continue reading Days 6, 7, 8 & 9 – Recovery Mode Activated

Today was supposed to be a rest day, however I woke after a restless sleep and could feel my heart beating in both feet. You know that feeling, hot, painful and not healing. I knew I needed to sort out these blisters, so after a few phone calls - and as it is a Saturday, … Continue reading Day 5 – Progress requires setbacks; the only sure way to avoid failure is not to try

Any research online will show that this section of the TA is rated as some of the worst. I would have to agree. It would be great if it involves a single day of hiking, but this much was a little bit too much! I woke at 5:23am after a rough night sleep with pain … Continue reading Day 4 – The End of 90 Mile Beach… Finally!

I spent most of the night contemplating whether I would be able to hike today. My knee was aching and every time I moved I was woken by another sore muscle or sunburned backs of legs - you know how much that hurts whey out are trying to sleep! I woke at 6:10am, got up … Continue reading Day 3 – A Serious Test

Well then, a bit of wake up call today. I woke at 6:07 as it was light, so got up and did the normal things everyone does, had breakfast, packed up camp and hit the beach at 7:45am. I’ll get the timing down over the next few weeks, but it is all still very new. … Continue reading Day 2 – Romanticism vs. Reality

I have not had internet for the previous 4 days, so apologies for the flurry of posts. I typed a post each night, and are just posting these now. Also apologies for the spelling and grammar - each update was after the days "exercise" so may reflect my exhaustion! Wow, what a day! Where to … Continue reading Day 1 – The Adventure Begins!

Well, here we go folks! I'm typing this blog post from my motel room in Kaitaia. A bit of a rocky start revolving around a broken lock to my room (gear inside), one locksmith and eventually breaking in through the fire escape, I'm all set! My bags are packed, I've completed my final gear check … Continue reading T-1 Day!