3RY Update Part:

15

Date:

12th July ‘19

Day:

171

Title:

A Slippery Slope

KM Mark Start:

482

Start Location:

Govan Wilson Road

KM Mark Finish:

469

Finish Location:

Pakiri Beach Holiday Park

Actual KM Today:

14

Weather:

Rain all day

General:

Up over Ōmaha Forest and past the MetService weather station. Had rained most of the night and continued all day so the slopes were very slick. Almost white-out conditions. A few good ups and downs to clamber over before a small raad walk to Pakiri Beach Holiday Park

Body:

All good!

Outlook:

Looking forward to the coast again

Tune of the Day:

171. No Diggity – Blackstreet

Day 171 Images:

3RY Update Part:

15

Date:

8th, 9th, 10th, 11th July ‘19

Day:

167, 168, 169, 170

Title:

⁃ Double 1’s

⁃ Puhoi Pub

⁃ Barn Loft with a serving of Goats Milk

⁃ Craft Beer Angel

KM Mark Start:

⁃ 549

⁃ 540

⁃ 522

⁃ 504

Start Location:

⁃ Stillwater

⁃ Orewa

⁃ Puhoi

⁃ Kaipara Road

KM Mark Finish:

⁃ 540

⁃ 522

⁃ 504

⁃ 482

Finish Location:

⁃ Orewa Beach Holiday Park

⁃ Puhoi Pub

⁃ Kaipara Road

⁃ Govan Wilson Road

Actual KM Today:

12

18

20

24

Weather:

⁃ Rained off and on (x 2)

⁃ Sunny

⁃ Sunny with patches of rain

General:

167. Stillwater > Silverdale > Orewa. Mostly Road walking. Nicest part was the Orewa River Walkway and Orewa coast itself. Threw a ‘double 1’ @ the pub = free pint. Whoop whoop.

168. Started with a nice walk along Orewa Beach but then needed to boost up to the highway as the tide was too high. Walked this until the Puhoi turnoff. Puhoi Pub is a great local. Loads of history on the walls and the people were all amazing. Really friendly owners and staff who looked after me big time.

169. Not a massive amount to write about through these last sections. Followed the Puhoi River up to Ahuroa Road. Then followed bush tracks and 4WD tracks to eventually pop out at Edgerley Road. Slept the night in a barn loft. The owners gave me fresh goats milk, goats cheese and eggs from their own goats and chickens. Awesome wee set up.

170. Kicked off the day with a walk over some farm land to get access to firstly Dome Café and then Dome Forest. I went up Waiwhiu Road to intersect the official trail and complete the last 7km in the bush. Was put up by a legendary couple, Liam and Becs! Felt like a second home, craft beers, great yarns and home cooked meal. Such a great spot!

Body:

Good (x4)

Outlook:

⁃ Focussed on getting the Marsden Point Crossing sorted and ticked off. (x3)

⁃ Bush sections through here are difficult after rain, so not looking forward to tomorrow’s leg.

Tune of the Day:

167. Anchor Me – Mutton Birds

168. Young, Wild & Free – Wiz Khalifa feat. Snoop Dog

169. Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas

170. The Bad Touch – Bloodhound Gang

Day 167, 168, 169, 170 Images:

167.

168.

169.

170.

3RY Update Part:

15

Date:

7th July ‘19

Day:

166

Title:

Okura Crossing

KM Mark Start:

561

Start Location:

Browns Bay

KM Mark Finish:

549

Finish Location:

Stillwater

Actual KM Today:

17

Weather:

Sunny

General:

Another really nice day walking along the coastline. Most of the route was on beaches and over rock outcrops, with the odd km through residential areas. Needed to get across the Okura River to get to Stillwater. I hit the river about 30mins before low tide. I walked inland to get away from the main channel. Managed to cross at a point where the water was no deeper than my thighs. Another one crossed off the list. Went for dinner at the Stillwater boat club.

Body:

Ok, foot felt a little better today

Outlook:

Good!

Tune of the Day:

166. Some L.A Nig%#* – Dr Dre

Day 166 Images:

3RY Update Part:

15

Date:

6th July ‘19

Day:

165

Title:

Beach Pads! 🏝🤑🤑🏖

KM Mark Start:

579

Start Location:

Auckland Harbour – Torpedo Bay

KM Mark Finish:

561

Finish Location:

Browns Bay

Actual KM Today:

25

Weather:

Sunny all day

General:

Cracker of a walk from Torpedo Bay up the East coast to Brown Bay. Historical Gun turrets, tunnels, incredibly lavish beach houses, people walking dogs (& goats!). Part of the trail took me over old lava flow that had wiped out kauri forests. The enormous cavities of where the kauri were still visible in the rocks today. If I was going to live in Auckland it’d be on this side for sure (bank balance would need some improvement first though).

So many people out in the beaches and in the water. Seems like the place to be. Even the dogs looked wealthy.

Body:

Weird bruising on my foot bone 🤷🏻‍♂️

Outlook:

Cross Okura River tomorrow…its deep one I’ve been told.

Tune of the Day:

165. Hooked on a Feeling – Björn Skifs

Day 165 Images:

3RY Update Part:

15

Date:

30th June ‘19 and 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th July ‘19.

Day:

159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164

Title:

Updates & Auckland Harbour Crossing

KM Mark Start:

581

581

579

579

579

579

Start Location:

159. Auckland Harbour – Okahu Bay

160. Auckland Harbour – Torpedo Bay

161. Auckland Harbour – Torpedo Bay

162. Auckland Harbour – Torpedo Bay

163. Auckland Harbour – Torpedo Bay

164. Auckland Harbour – Torpedo Bay

KM Mark Finish:

159. 581

160. 579

161. 579

163. 579

164. 579

165. 579

Finish Location:

Auckland Harbour – Torpedo Bay

Auckland Harbour – Torpedo Bay

Auckland Harbour – Torpedo Bay

Auckland Harbour – Torpedo Bay

Auckland Harbour – Torpedo Bay

Auckland Harbour – Torpedo Bay

Actual KM Today:

7km

0 (x5)

Weather:

Sunny

Sunny then rain

Rain

Rain

Rain

Rain

General:

159. Just chilled out and finished all of my updates.

160. Walked from Auckland city centre to Okahu Bay and Met Nic from Auckland Sea Kayaks. They had found out about the ‘3 Reasons Why’ project and went above and beyond to help me out with getting across the Auckland Harbour. It was a perfect morning with perfect conditions and we raced across to Torpedo Bay. Really appreciate what they have done…Thanks loads Nic & Auckland Sea Kayaks!!

161. Rest Day

162. Rest Day

163. Rest Day

164. Rest Day and Prep Day

Body:

Pretty good x 6

Outlook:

Quite comfortable in Aucks but need to push on. I’ve been told north of Auckland gets into some amazing scenery, looking forward to that. Has been amazing to see old school mates; Gusty, Joe and Nick.

Tune of the Day:

159. Vasoline – Stone Temple Pilots

160. Angie – Rolling Stones

161. Take me home – John Denver

162. Jumper – Third Eye Blind

163. What I Got – Sublime

164. Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder

Day 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164 Images:

159.

160.

Absolute pleasure to chat with Robert Rakete and Jeanette Thomas on The Breeze Auckland this morn!

Enormous thank you for supporting the ‘3 Reasons Why’ charity project guys!

the-breezeauckland-mike-duncan.mp3

3RY Update Part:

14

Date:

27th, 28th, 29th June ‘19

Day:

156, 157 & 158

Title:

The Big Smoke 1, TBS 2, TBS 3

KM Mark Start:

156. 649

157. 627

158. 595

Start Location:

156. Ramarama

157. Auckland Botanical Gardens (Manurewa)

158. Onehunga Aucks

KM Mark Finish:

156. 627

157. 595

158. 581

Finish Location:

156. Botanical Gardens Manurewa

157. Onehunga Aucks

158. Auckland Harbour

Actual KM Today:

156. 24

157. 28

158. 15

Weather:

156. Sunny

157. Sunny

158. Sunny

General:

156. Left Ramarama back roads through Papakura. Locals here very keen to chat about what I’m up to and tried to pay for my lunch. Made it to Auckland Botanical Gardens in Manurewa. The weirdest scene unfolded when a couple had decided to have their divorce settlement meeting in the café. After 17 years of marriage, she wanted 600k, he wouldn’t budge so they settled on 550k. When they left everybody in the café burst into discussion about who should’ve done what re: the negotiations. So weird, I thought it was a hidden camera show. The image below is a novel idea someone has had for a man hole cover…map of the area.

157. The official TA goes out to the coast past the airport. I didn’t see the point in walking a large loop when it’s mostly road waking so went straight from the Auckland Botanical Gardens in Manurewa (home of the Sir John Walker Statue), through Papatoetoe and Mangere, under the Manukau Harbour Bridge to Onehunga.

158. Road walked all day today. From Onehunga, up and over One Tree Hill, through town and finished at the harbour! Now for the Harbour Crossing 😬. Met up with school mates Joe Michael and Nick Ferry, great catch up with those two legends.

Body:

Pretty good overall

Outlook:

All good, really nice to have some easy terrain and nice weather to walk in. Makes the going a lot easier.

Tune of the Day:

156. Always on my Mind – Tiki Taane

157. Get Low – Dan Henig

158. Careless Whisper – Seether

Day 156, 157 & 158 Images:

156.

157.

158.

3RY Update Part:

14

Date:

26th June ‘19

Day:

155

Title:

Banana Ramarama

KM Mark Start:

677

Start Location:

Mercer

KM Mark Finish:

649

Finish Location:

Ramarama

Actual KM Today:

25

Weather:

Sunny

General:

Another detour to avoid the large, unnecessary loop of the official trail. I went straight up SH1, through Pokeno and onto Razorback Road then Hill View road. I was stopped by the PoPo 🚔 on SH1 but he was happy enough once I told him what I was up to and my planned route. Spotted the Auckland Sky Tower off in the distance!

Body:

Alrighty

Outlook:

This section is logistically difficult. Long stretches of nowhere to camp. Don’t mind the road walks though.

Tune of the Day:

155. Sugar – System of a Down

Day 155 Images:

3RY Update Part:

14

Date:

25th June ‘19

Day:

153

Title:

Hampton Downs Speedway

KM Mark Start:

703

Start Location:

Rangariri

KM Mark Finish:

677

Finish Location:

Mercer

Actual KM Today:

24

Weather:

Sunny all day 👏

General:

Rather than follow the river over the not so great farm tracks I followed the road for the day weaving in and out of the Waikato express way and taking the following roads:

Kauwhata, Rodda, Whangamarino, Foster, Spring Hill, Te Puea Ave and finally the Waikato Expressway itself. I Passed Hampton Downs Speedway and watched the petrol heads doing burnouts for a while. It was really loud…I could still hear it for ~1hr after walking past.

Body:

Knee 👎🏼, rest is all gd.

Outlook:

Pretty keen to get North of Auckland.

Tune of the Day:

154. Alive – Lil Jon

Day 154 Images:

3RY Update Part:

14

Date:

24th June ‘19

Day:

153

Title:

Miranda Hot Pools

KM Mark Start:

719

Start Location:

Huntly

KM Mark Finish:

703

Finish Location:

Rangariri

Actual KM Today:

19

Weather:

Sunny with cloudy patches

General:

Nice road walk following the Waikato River north to Rangariri. The official path crosses farm land alongside the road, but when the options are a paved road or uneven, muddy, cow pat covered fields (right beside the road) I’ll take the road thanks.

Was lucky enough to meet the ‘Te Araroa Famous’ Cathy who runs the pie shop in Rangariri. She invited me to the Miranda Hotpools with two of her mates. Had an amazing soak in the hot pool and a great chat with them all. A perfect way to finish the day…Thanks guys, loved it.

Body:

Ok, knee was so-so on the flat road.

Outlook:

All good

Tune of the Day:

153. Brown Girl – Jurassic 5

Day 153 Images: