Sam needs to work on the correct pose! The relentless heat of Rome inspired us to hit the trail at 0630, but we also lucked out as early morning thunderstorms had dampened down the dust and temporarily lowered the temperature. The path out of Rome was well marked, but that still didn't prevent us from … Continue reading VF del sud day 1: Rome to Castel Gandolfo
Author: 2saunter
In 2009, we embarked on a one-year family sailing adventure aboard a Grand Soleil 39, "SV Mulan". Our original sailing blog is linked on this site.
In 2017, Susan, Andrew, Sam & Max walked the Camino Frances from St-Jean-Pied-de-Porte to Santiago de Compostella (and rode bikes from Burgos to Leon as a blister recovery strategy), and in 2018 Jack also joined the crew as we waled the northern section of the Camino Portuguese from Porto to S de C.
In 2019 Andrew, accompanied by Max for the first few hundred kms, and Susan for the Tiscan section, walked the via francigena from Canterbury to Rome. That journey is blogged in this site.
This blog is planned as an alternative to the endless instagram posts used previously to communicate with those interested in our travels - although there is a linked instagram account as well!
Via francigena del sud: day 0
All smiles from being blister free at km 0 Omnes viae Roman perducunt..... If all roads lead to Rome, then logically they all must also lead from Rome. Sam and I are here to test that theory by embarking on the Via francigena del sud, from Rome to Santa Maria di Leuca. Today was our … Continue reading Via francigena del sud: day 0
TA day XIII
Paihia to ....., Almost symmetrical Yes, I have discontinued walking the TA, but fellow walker, Ian - who I’d met at Cape Reinga, was continuing on, and I decided to accompany him for a few kms. There was a nice walking trail around the hills and coves from Paihia to Opua, and then a short … Continue reading TA day XIII
TA day XI & XII
Rest day and Kerikeri to Paihia Gnarly tree, Kerikeri Here is where things get messy. Upon arrival at the recommended backpackers in Kerikeri, there was doubt whether they would have a bed for two nights- and I was dead keen to have a rest day. So as a insurance policy I phoned ahead to Paihia … Continue reading TA day XI & XII
TA day V
Ahipara to Kaitaia It’s a mere 15km between the two towns, and there are those that grumble about a recognized walkway using roads at all. In my view, however, walking along roads gives one an interesting insight into the values and attitudes of a community. But barely had the road walking begun when I was … Continue reading TA day V
TA day IV
Hukatete to Ahipara A day for digging deep. The only way off the beach is to walk, and the last 30km was tough sledding. 90 mile beach makes the Meseta on the Camino Frances seem like a stroll in the Botanical Gardens. The kindness of strangers helped. The local fishermen were happy to chat as … Continue reading TA day IV
TA day III
Maunganui Bluff to Hukatere campsite In walking the beach you are slaves to the tides, and like yesterday, today’s mid-morning tide dictated a prompt start (i. e. no tea with breakfast) and a two hour coffee break in the sand dunes waiting for the high tide to abate. The early start did permit photo ops, … Continue reading TA day III
TA day II
Twilight Beach Camp to Maunganui Bluff campsite. A brisk start over undulating former sand dunes until confronted with a spectacular view down 90 Mile Beach. Thankfully I am not north bound (NOBO in TA parlance) as the extensive wooden staircase would be a killer at the 2,885 km mark. Life’s a beach! And so to … Continue reading TA day II
TA day I
While in Covid quarantine I read the first two volumes of Edward Gibbon’s “The History of the Decline and Fall if the Roman Empire”, so I have decided it is appropriate to use Roman Numerals for the day count. Cape Reinga lighthouse is km 0 So, day I of the Te Araroa was s relaxing … Continue reading TA day I
SCT Phase II Day Four
Lewis Lake to Elk Lake Living by the light of day, I was woken in the middle of the night (about 8pm) by hikers navigating by headlamp. They'd missed the turn in the trail and almost stumbled into the lake. When I was pitching my tent there was another hiker waiting for his girlfriend, and … Continue reading SCT Phase II Day Four
2saunter 