Kia ora, e te whānau! Good health, posse of readers! I hope your 2023 is off to a solid start and doesn't feel too much like the end of last month with an additional thought process required to simply write the date.
I’m currently visiting friends from my avocado-picking days in Central Otago. They’re all working the cherry season, which is truly a fascinating industry. For instance, did you know that after rain, they must dry the cherries and they do this by flying a helicopter over the trees to blow all the water off? I’ve heard varying cost quotes for this procedure, ranging from $600 to $2000 per hour. So, now you know (why they cost what they do in the supermarket!).
Some other things to pass on this week, then…
The Waka & Waewae Journey turns 1
Traditionally, adventures shouldn't have birthdays. Unless it's a round-the-world epic or a visit to Mars, a traverse of a country the size of New Zealand shouldn't tick past the 12 month mark. However, there has been nothing traditional about The Waka & Waewae Journey. It’s been a wild ride of the unprecedented.
On 8th January 2022, the journey began. It was a stinking hot, summer's day at Cape Reinga lighthouse. Part of my planning for this was about avoiding Te Araroa -New Zealand's Trail as much as possible. Not over any dislike of TA. Quite the opposite: I'm saving it for my 50th birthday!
When Dave, Roy and I left the lighthouse, we hiked east. First crossing the secluded, stunning and imaginatively-named Sandy Bay, followed by Taputaputa, Whangākea and Te Horo, before finishing up the 26km day at Kapowairua/Spirits Bay. All in the raging heat.
Collapsing on the floor at the campground, it wasn't over for some. Dave and Roy still had to drive back to the Cape and get the car we'd left there that morning. True heroes! As are all of you who've thrown a bit of cash down at my fundraiser in recent weeks! Robin, Roman, Hayden, Raine, Alessandra and Amanda: THANK YOU HEAPS! We've now raised over $1900 for Mental Health Foundation, UNICEF's Urgent Ukraine Appeal and New Zealand Cancer Society!
If you've been following this journey throughout, you'll be aware that it has not gone to plan. Heaps has gone wrong; I've quit, been injured and hated some sections. Keep your subscription, because I'm going to analyse and divulge what this mission has taught me about adversity and coping with it.
Great gear vs garbage gear
If you know me, you'll know that I put my gear through the wringer. Nothing gets off lightly. Some items don't go the distance, while others outlive their expected lifespan and are still going many years later.
Since I am independent and unsponsored - aside from the world-changing people at āma, of course - I can and will write freely about my experiences trashing gear.
This will begin with a bunch of awards for the best and worst stuff I paddled and carried 1,800km across the North Island - next Tuesday at 6pm NZDT.
Wanna chat?
I turned Substack chat on! Got a burning question about a part of Aotearoa New Zealand you want to visit? Seen me using a water purifier you like the look of? Want to contribute to an FAQ article I will no doubt write at some point in the future. Ask it in chat!
Of course, I'm still thrashing the usual places of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (for now) as well... I love passing on knowledge and experiences, so just ask it!
Chat is available exclusively to subscribers. To join in, you’ll need to download the Substack app, now available on both iOS and Android. Chats are sent via the app, not email, so turn on push notifications so you don’t miss conversation as it happens. Scroll to the bottom for more instructions on finding the app!
The sounds of The Waka & Waewae
And finally... find out what songs have been hummed and sung badly aboard the raft, me hearties: I made a Waka & Waewae Journey playlist for Spotify!
My DJ former-self just won't give it up. Music plays a huge role in my activities and for each epic adventure, I subconsciously curate a playlist as I travel. These are made up of lyrically-relevant earworms, tracks introduced to me by significant people on my path and stuff that just seems to flow. Take a listen here... and if you're really interested, you can listen to the Dunc's Big Bike Ride one here!
Thanks for reading! Hope you’ve enjoyed this catch-up. As usual, if you know anyone who might be interested in subscribing, send this on to them.
’Til next time,
Dunc out*
*Except for this:
How to get started on the app
Download the app by clicking this link or the button below. Substack Chat is now available on both iOS and Android.
Open the app and tap the Chat icon. It looks like two bubbles in the bottom bar, and you’ll see a row for my chat inside.
That’s it! Jump into my thread to say hi, and if you have any issues, check out Substack’s FAQ.