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Grey Hiker

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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 22, 20222 min read
Day 18. Nov. 22nd. Ocean Beach to Marsden Cove. 21km.
I was feeling the after effects of my big day from the day before. Was one of the last to leave camp. Climbing to 450m today up over...
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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 21, 20221 min read
Day 17. Nov. 21st. Ngunguru to Ocean Beach. 38km.
Longest hike so far at 38km. The Horahora River crossing was closed due to a bereavement in the family of the landowners. Yet another...
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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 20, 20222 min read
Day 16. Nov. 20th. Whananaki to Ngunguru. 26km.
Completely losing track of the day of the week and the date. Haven’t looked at the news in two weeks, a big change from what was a daily...
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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 19, 20221 min read
Day 15. Nov. 19th. Helena Bay to Whananaki. 24km.
Another day, another diversion. Landowners had closed the Morepork-Onekainga track, meaning an 18km road diversion. The first bit up from...
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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 17, 20222 min read
Day 13. Nov. 17th. Pahia via Russell to the Farm. 28km.
Took the ferry across to Russell from Pahia on a grey and bleak morning. Then the rain started and boy did it pour. My raincoat came out...
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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 17, 20221 min read
Day 14. Nov. 18th. The Farm to Helena Bay. 18km.
Today was an 18km walk on a quiet metalled road in the rain. Wonderful 😊. I didn’t mind. Just head down and let the kilometres walk by....
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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 16, 20222 min read
Day 12. Nov. 16th. Kerikeri to Pahia. 28km.
The first few kms out from Kerikeri along the river to the Stone Store and Mission House (oldest European buildings in NZ) were lovely. A...
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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 16, 20221 min read
Day 11. Nov. 15th. Waimate North. Zero day.
Wonderful stay with Linda and Al outside Kerikeri, enjoying home comforts and great hospitality. Body changed to 100%. Finally made the...
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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 14, 20221 min read
Day 10. Nov. 14th. Puketi Campsite to Kerikeri. 27km.
Another fine day, starting along gravel road but easing into a grassy trail through farmland and along the river. Blister on my pinkie...
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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 13, 20221 min read
Day 9. Nov. 13th. Blackbridge road campsite to Puketi Campsite. 22km.
Toughest section so far but the weather was kind and the bush walk was beautiful. The first few hours in the river were serene....
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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 13, 20221 min read
Day 8. Nov. 12th. Broadwood to Blackbridge road campsite. 38km.
Hitched the first 21km on the dangerous road section between Broadwood and Mangamuka Road. Can’t even remember the last time I hitched,...
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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 12, 20221 min read
Day 7. Nov. 11th. Kaitaia to Broadwood 33km.
Got going a little later because I had to post off my bounce box to it’s next resting place, at Linda and Alan’s, family friends via...
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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 11, 20221 min read
Day 6. Nov. 10th. Kaitaia. Zero day.
Spend an easy day in Kaitaia at the Loredo motel. My intention was to plan the two weeks after Kerikeri and do my blog but didn’t make...
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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 9, 20221 min read
Day 5. Nov. 9th. Waipapakauri to Kaitaia. 28km (hitched 15km)
Final 90 mile beach day. Was intending to camp at Ahipara after Waipapakauri but made good progress, so decided to hitch or catch a...
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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 8, 20221 min read
Day 4. Nov. 8th. Hukatere Campsite to Waipapakauri
It was my birthday, 59 today. Was delighted that Gabby had made me a cooked breakfast for my birthday along with a lit candle. So sweet....
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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 7, 20221 min read
Day 3. Nov. 7th. Maunganui Bluff campsite to Hukatere Lodge campsite. 31km
Another big day today. So far so good on the blister front. Most of us left around the same time so a trail of bobbing backpacks...
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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 6, 20222 min read
Day 2. Nov. 6th. Twilight Beach campsite to Maunganui Bluff campsite. 29km.
Up and away early. Anxious that this is the first really big day. Along sandstone track and low scrub, over Scott’s Point before going...
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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 5, 20222 min read
Day 1. Nov. 5th. Cape Reinga to Twilight Beach campsite. 13km
Got a lift with Greg from Tuatua rentals at 9am from Kaitaia to Cape Reinga. Today was Ride to the Cape motorbike fundraiser so lots of...
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Dermot O'Brien
Nov 4, 20221 min read
Day 0. Nov. 4th. Kaitaia. Zero Day.
The day before it begins. In Kaitaia ready to catch a shuttle to Cape Reinga first thing tomorrow morning and then onto the trail for...
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Dermot O'Brien
Oct 28, 20221 min read
Language and connection
Am an NZ / Irish / Canadian pākehā born and grew up in Ireland but have lived in NZ for 24 years. As part of my TA journey, I’d really...
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