Annapurna Circuit -- One last Trek in 2012!

2012, a year of  life-changing adventures:   First, Brad tramped the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand, then he hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in the US, and now he's trekking the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal.  He's hoping to put 5,000 miles on his walking feet before year's end.

Brad travelled to China in November to visit a friend, Yessi, sightsee in China and take care of some medical needs -- mostly getting much-needed dental work tended to.  The quote for the dental work in the US that  he needed was $5500.  Yessi researched dental work in Xiamen, her home, and discovered he could have the same work, plus more, done for $1100.  The difference paid for the trip and is rounding out Brad's 2012 year with one final thru-hike.

Brad and Yessi touring the Hong Kong area:

Yessi & Brad

View of Hong Kong from hotel room

Hong Kong street scene

Brad & Yessi sightseeing in Hong Kong

B & B

Brad visiting Yessi's family in Xiemen, China:

Yessi and her mom provide spreads like this three times a day

Yessi and her family -- mom, nieces, sister-in-law and brother

Xiamen:

Xiamen 

Xiamen

Arriving in Kathmandu, Nepal:

Brad and Yessi at Kathmandu Airport

Experiencing Kathmandu:

Te Araroa Finish

Hallelujah! Brad, with five tramping friends, completed the Te Araroa Trail 4/20/12, Bluff, NZ, with much excitement and fanfare!  Five months and 1800 miles of tramping, sometimes together, sometimes solo, sometimes in mixed combinations, these trampers met on the trail sharing friendships, huts, tracks, food, wet feet, blisters, beauty, difficulty, exhaustion, pleasure, and so much more.  Two days before Bluff they coincidentally all ended up at the same hostel, serendipitously finishing together.

Arnaud, Brad, Richard, Flore, Ludo, Charlie

The Cross Over...

A milestone day, the day of Brad's crossing Cook Strait from the North Island to the South Island. The North Island was challenging, but the South Island will be more challenging. Fewer towns so resupply is more difficult; much more remote and isolated; fewer opportunities for e-mailing friends and family; tougher trails; and the days are getting shorter and colder. The Te Araroa Trail has been unfolding with many wonderful memories and friends being accumulated along the way. On it goes...

Cook Strait Ferry

A Milestone Almost Reached

Brad left Whidbey the middle of November for an "adventure of a life time". A five month trek from the north end of the North Island to the south end of the South Island on the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand.

Brad will cross from North Island to South Island, early February. Tomorrow he leaves Palmerston for Wellington, where he will catch the ferry to cross Cook Strait.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from Auckland, New Zealand, where Brad treks.

Brad's Adventure!

SeaTac Departure

Check out his new shirt from Wander on Whidbey

Brad departs for New Zealand tomorrow for a five-month hike of the Te Araroa Trail. The missing-of-Brad has already started and he's still in Seattle. If you want to follow Brad's adventure see Brad's Blog or Fran's Blog as they follow Brad on the Te Araroa Trail from the north tip of New Zealand to the south tip. An adventure that will unfold over the next five months (mid November to mid April).