Me 2007-09-13 4000 & 2500
September 13th, 2007
The Noodleheads and I are alone on the trail for a few days we think. Others set off yesterday and today but most seem to be taking other routes. Today’s trail has been a lot of ups and downs, with about half a mile of really nice ridge-top stuff just before lunch. We commemorated the 4,000km mark by writing it in rocks by the stream and tonight we’re camped at 2,500.2 miles.
Though we didn’t start until 8am we’ve packed in a good distance. It helped to have people to talk to and the discussion on “Your Money Or Your Life” the book that changed their lives. They did most of the talking and I just absorbed all this great stuff about how to “How to spend money like you hate working” and how to plot out when your non-employment income (investments etc) will over take your expenses and thus you can retire. Unfortunately it would mean I shouldn’t go buying a flash plasma TV or a funky new iPod Nano. But hey, if I can spend five months in the woods I can live without those sorts of gadgets. They’re the most interesting trail characters I’ve met and their lifestyle really appeals to me.
Dave O. Could you turn those numbers into something related to New Zealand for me 
September 18th, 2007 at 4:23 am
Five months in the woods with how many gadgets? And how much’ve you been spending on food in these months? Sorry, party-pooping aside I’m with you on that one.
Speaking of retirement I ONLY HAVE THREE MORE DAYS OF WORK (the kind one only does to pay bills and is otherwise completely indifferent to) WHICH I CAN JUST TAKE AS SICK LEAVE WITHOUT A DOCTOR’S CERTIFICATE!
September 18th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Cape Reinga to Bluff and back (by road) is 4078km. So the 4000 km/2500 mile mark is halfway up Ninety Mile Beach on the way back.
That’s Cape Reinga to Auckland to Hamilton to Taupo to Wellington to Picton to Christchurch to Dunedin to Bluff to Dunedin to Christchurch to Picton to Wellington to Taupo to Hamilton to Auckland to Kaitaia and onwards somewhere near Aupori Forest.
September 18th, 2007 at 7:56 pm
Cheers Dave. Next time I’m any where on that route and looking at a long drive home I’ll try to convert it to PCT distances and remember how long it took on foot.