NZ & The TWL! ♥

"take me to the fantastic place, keep the rest of my life away,
 take me to the island..."

With just over a week to go before Jon, Curph, Chappers and myself embark on our great trek across The South Downs Way, I'm taking the rare opportunity to publish a blog at the weekend, as I've actually got access to a PC (yay!), and I'm also finally posting the fifth and final of my personal favourite photo's ~
'Sunrise in Paihia' in The Bay of Islands on the North Island of New Zealand ~ paradise!
This stunning image was taken using my mobile phone around 6am, just as the sun was rising whilst I went for an early morning stroll along the beach.

After the charity event is over I'll be casting an eye forward towards my impending return to my 'spiritual home' in New Zealand, and the reunion with my great friend, Ange...aka the TWL, which explains the title of this latest blog.

Please see the photo (bottom left), appropriately taken of Ange also on the beach.

As you may recall from previous blogs, I had originally planned to re-visit New Zealand for my 50th birthday (in quite a few years time I hasten to add!), but an opportunity exists to bring this plan forward to this year to celebrate my 45th instead, so I fully intend to persue it if at all possible.
It may not yet happen, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that my plans come to fruition, maybe with a little bit of help no doubt (?).. and if not then I have a back-up contingency plan in mind, which is a completely radical and practical alternative...watch this space! Lol.
So either way this old fella will be fine...although the TWL knows where my heart truely belongs, and I'll remain forever hopeful that I'll be NZ bound come the end of October this year and not 2017 instead!?

Whilst on the charity walk itself I won't be posting any blogs ~ I'll wait until I return, hopefully in one piece?! ~ and then I'll resume by writing a full account of the whole experience. But what I will do is upload at least two photo's every day via Facebook ~ one at the start of the day, and one at the end when we've reached our daily destination ~ as well as any photo's of any funny mishaps or anything else particularly relevant which may occur along the way!

Just to recap our schedule and daily mileage is as follows:

Monday April 23rd ~ Winchester to Buriton ~ 24 miles

Tuesday April 24th ~ Buriton to Amberley ~ 22 miles

Wednesday April 25th ~ Amberley to Pyecombe ~ 20 miles

Thursday April 26th ~ Pyecombe to Rodmell ~ 14 miles

Friday April 27th ~ Rodmell to Eastbourne ~ 20 miles

Many thanks for all of the donations so far received...it has honestly been a very humbling experience for me, and the interest and support shown right back to when I originally thought up the idea to the present day has truly been overwhelming. To date the four of us have so far raised £2,189 for the cause, mainly from on-line donations, although I know there are some additional monies which I've factored in such as cash pledges and donations made via sponsorship forms, as well as the first banking of the coinage from the collection boxes, and the kind 'matches' donated by our employer, Mercer.
Please find the link below to my sponsorship 'Just Giving' page:

http://www.justgiving.com/SteveMuskett27010

Although I'm still struggling with my injuries, I'm pleased to say that I'm confident that I'll be fit enough to participate in the walk on April 23rd ~ I'm trekking 12 miles tomorrow, although I intend to take it quite easy so hopefully there'll be no ill effects other than maybe an extremely sore back...I'm ok so long as I don't cough, sneeze or breathe!
I'll be posting one final blog before we depart for our trek, but until then on behalf of the lads and myself may I sincerely thank you for all of your support.

Ramblin' Steve