A Dangerous Business

Date: 21st December 2023 Start: Ngaporo Campsite (km 1274.8) End: Flying Fox (km 1313.9) Distance Travelled: 39.2 km Total Distance Completed: 1267.9 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: I Ain’t Worried by OneRepublic Rock Friends Made: one too many Sometimes I miss the early days of my multi-day hiking career when I’d only have to

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Date: 20th December 2023 Start: Mangawaiiti Campsite (river km 47.5) End: Ngaporo Campsite (km 1274.8) Distance Travelled: 32.8 km paddled + 5.4 km walked (38.2 km total) Total Distance Completed: 1227.9 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: I Wonder (Depature) by ABBA Desire for a Cushion: at an all time high My arms were still

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Date: 19th December 2023 Start: Whakahoro Bunkrooms (km 1215.2) End: Mangawaiiti Campsite (river km 47.5) Distance Travelled: 47.5 km Total Distance Completed: 1189.7 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: Drunken Sailor by Irish Rovers Sources of Pain: arms and butt Just to be upfront, there won’t be many photos of the next few days. Whilst

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Date: 18th December 2023 Start: Coupers Crossing, Kaitieke (km 1190.4) End: Whakahoro Bunkrooms (km 1215.2) Distance Travelled: 24.8 km Total Distance Completed: 1142.2 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: Wellerman (it’s a sea shanty, getting a few prepared for the river) Humidity: Brisbane-esque Oh yay, another day of road walking! I am so excited at

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Date: 17th December 2023 Start: YHA National Park (km 1162.7) End: Coupers Crossing, Kaitieke (km 1190.4) Distance Travelled: 27.7 km Total Distance Completed: 1117.4 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: O Holy Night Erua Forest Prettiness: surprisingly high The abrasive sounds coming from my phone at 6am seemed to be trying to tell me to

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Date: 16th December 2023 Start: Whakapapa Holiday Park (km 1143) End: YHA National Park (km 1162.7) Distance Travelled: 19.7 km Total Distance Completed: 1089.7 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: Brisbane Harbour by The Dreadnoughts Peer Pressure Resistance: negligible Help. I’ve had so many early starts these last few days that my body is getting

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Date: 15th December 2023 Start: Tongariro Holiday Park (km 1108.5) End: Whakapapa Holiday Park (km 1143) Distance Travelled: 27.1 km walked + 7.4 km shuttle (34.5 km total) Total Distance Completed: 1070 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: no song, just Sam Gamgee being an absolute legend to Frodo (“I can’t carry it for you,

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Date: 14th December 2023 Start: Whakapapa River, Owhango (km 1071.2) End: Tongariro Holiday Park (km 1108.5) Distance Travelled: 37.3 km Total Distance Completed: 1035.5 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: My Sister’s Crown by Vesna Birds: yes My alarm turns on at 5am and I begin my ritual of internally screaming until the second one

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Date: 13th December 2023 Start: Taumarunui Canoe Hire (km 1046.6) End: Whakapapa River, Owhango (km 1071.2) Distance Travelled: 19.7 km walked + 5 km hitch (24.7 km total) Total Distance Completed: 998.2 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: Higher Ground by Rasmussen Hiking Pole Tip: missing in action By this point I’m getting both used

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Date: 12th December 2023 Start: Ongarue (km 1016.6) End: Taumarunui Canoe Hire (km 1046.6) Distance Travelled: 16.8 km walked + 13.2 km hitched (30 km total) Total Distance Completed: 973.5 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: O Come All Ye Faithful Cost of Groceries Bought in Taumarunui: you really don’t want to know Our night

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