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Published: January 8th 2008
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Hi from National Park....(yeah, its a town).
Happy New Year first and foremost. I hope everyone had wonderful holidays and is feeling more relaxed after the mayhem and festivities. I have been traveling in the North Island of New Zealand for about a week now. I arrived on the 30th, just in time to make a go at the New Years in Auckland. It was just fine, although forgettable. But, I rang in the new year with my first hike (or "tramp" as the say in NZ)...a 10 mile round the island hike of Rangitoto, which is a dormant volcanoe situated in Aukland's bay. It was a great way to ring in the new year, while all of my hostel dormmates slept off their drunken debauchery. (i have no idea how I got so old so young in life...but i was happy to be outside on a beautiful day). The hike was lovely, however the food I brought went bad on me (it was couscous and veggies, my standard, which had to be freezed overnight because of a bad cockroach/overfull fridge situation and it didn't make it through the defrost well) so all I had to eat all day was a
(very unusually large) carrot. It was enough to sustain me, and I had plenty of water, but I was happy to scarf ferry food on the way back to Auckland. Ah, the joys of prepackaged goodness.
After that, I had to spend a day or two planning my next few weeks in NZ. I had planned on playing it in the wind, however, I realized logistics would frustrate and inhibit me if I didnt do a little leg work first. But while I was in the city, I enjoyed some lovely parks and the best Kebabs this side of the dateline (easy considering its my first time this side of the dateline but they were still pretty awesome!). Then, when I had my ducks in a semi-curved squiggle, I headed off for my first overnight tramp....finally! I headed over to Great Barrier Island (GBI) which is at the entrance to Auckland bay and is a mini hawaii for those in the know. I spent my first night camping in someone's backyard, complete with private beach and spectacular mountain views. And finally...day five into my trip, I got onto my first real trail (or "track"). I had just received trekking
Great Barrier Island
This was my first big peak of the hike. What a view, but SO MANY BUGS!
poles for Christmas, and let me tell you....what a cool find! I am now officially a quadraped....although like a baby fole I had a hard time adjusting to my new limbs. It was quite a site to see me clamber up the vine-and-rock-face of my first peak, but it got easier when the track was actually graded and as I got used to the extra tools (I liked the poles so much, I wrote a song about all their uses....but I will save you, or maybe myself, the humiliation of sharing it). The hike was beautiful, although sparsely populated and that was a bummer for me. My second day turned out to a bit of a debaucle as the trail got darker and more closed in, and my imagination got the better of me. I kept thinking of the "I am Legend" monsters and making myself jumpy. Mind you there are NO predatory animals in New Zealand, let alone on this little island. But reason gives way to fear every time in my experience. I almost ran face first into this HUMONGOUS spider web three feet across with this nasty brown hairy spider waiting to jump me. I became more
aware of bugs at that point, which didn't help my attitude. I thought I got lost (I was actually on the right trail and close to my planned camp), crossed a river in barefeet, and fell trying to avoid said spiderweb on my return trip back to my main trail (I didn't understand the Karma in that one!). In the end, I went about 6 or 7K out of my way but ended up at the same planned campsite and was happy to find lots of campers there. The last day was the easiest, as I had a few Kilometers hike into a hot springs where I soaked my grumpy legs from the day before and made my way off the trail and back to the mainland.
Now, I am in National Park, awaiting good weather to either make the 14K-one-day Tongariro crossing which boasts amazing views or the three day Northern Circuit route which takes in the same sites over more days. I will decide in the morning how the weather looks, but I am eager to get back on the trail after a few days of travel and waiting.
Its been a pleasant and relaxing trip
so far...although sadly I killed about a dozen or so ants and maybe more mosquitos than I want to know. It was all from accident or bad planning, but maybe that was why I fell trying to avoid the spider web....or maybe its just that I am a clumsy oaf. Either way....I am sending my love and missing my friends and family already. I will post pictures once I get the hang of the technology..........Cheers
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Sally :)
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excited
Hi Sarah, I was so excited to see that you sent your 1st blog. I am glad that you are having a good time on your adventure although I really miss you and am totally jealous. I liked the part about the "I am Legend" monsters because they haunt me too :). Everytime I walk downstairs I imagine they are under the deck waiting for me. Can't wait to see the pics soon and till the next one...watch out for those spiders!!! Love always, Sally :):):)