Microblog

View from an abandoned road in an abandoned valley. We clambered around a barrier then walked along the decaying road, down into the valley, past towering, lush vegetation, across a mossy bridge, and onwards towards the Pacific.

Our perches for the next week in a VRBO cottage on a fruit farm on the wet (east) side of Hawaii Big Island. We can help ourselves to fruit, including a lone avocado on the tree to the left, taunting us, out of reach.

On a Hilo walk, Mauna Kea peeked through the clouds. At 33,500 feet, it’s the highest mountain on Earth, measured from the seabed. It’s 13,500 feet above sea level, home to 13 international observatories funded by 11 nations. There’s snow at the summit and it’s 83°F in Hilo.

View from a barstool, Hilo, Hawaii Big Island.

Post-shower selfie airside at Auckland AKL. I didn’t take my backpack in the shower, but maybe I should’ve. Today we hiked a coastal path on Waiheke Island. Warm weather, steep gradients, and three layers of sunscreen made the shower a treat. Tonight we fly overnight to Honolulu.

A 20-minute ferry ride brought us to uninhabited, volcanic Rangitoto Island. As we walked for miles on trails through this nature reserve, downtown Auckland seemed far away.

Flew to Auckland and checked into a downtown hotel for two nights. Already, we miss the quiet places we’ve been staying. Installed the public transit app to figure out how to get out of town by bus and ferry for two day hikes.

Posted Reducing Pathogen Transmission on Long Trips.

Hiked, took a ferry, hiked, took another ferry. Ended up back where we started.

We’re staying next to the Bay of Islands in New Zealand’s Northland. Today we took a ferry to the largest island, Urupukapuka Island, then hiked. Some of the trails were hard going, but we were often rewarded by gorgeous 360 degree views.

Rented bicycles, then cycled part of the Twin Coast Cycle Trail. The 54-mile rail trail connects the east and west coasts of New Zealand’s Northland.

Walked to the place New Zealand became a nation. The 1840 Treaty of Waitangi was signed by the British Crown and Maori chiefs. The Maori language version of the treaty was not properly honored by the British. In recent years the government has been confronting these issues

Refueled after an undulating ridge trail hike above the Bay of Islands.

At the start of our walk beside the Bay of Islands in New Zealand’s Northland, local kids were having a grand time being blasted with pigment. This is probably a nod to India’s Holi Festival which takes place about now.

Flew to the far north of New Zealand’s North Island: Nelson NSN to Auckland AKL, AKL to Kerikeri/Bay of Islands KKE.

The Heaphy Track in nearby Kahurangi National Park gradually climbed up a mountain, occasionally revealing other mountains through gaps in the trees. We hiked for the day, but found ourselves wishing we could hike the full track, end-to-end, over 4 days.