Dokkodo: Lonesome Road of Running

Final day of November, one month to go till the year of 2015. Vinesh, whom I first met in Auckland, is a photographer. This is the photo he took on that day. Left Taihape at 6:15, saying good by to Safari Motel where I spent 2 nights. Jenny the owner was kind enough to take good care of me in many ways. Has scattered shower several times on the way. Not warm enough, chilly winds blew down. And I had to climb so many hills today too. The grade was not so steep 6-8 percent. No matter how long it takes I can make it. Sheep an cows welcome wherever I go. No one says hello except them on the highway. At 3:30 I finished today’s run. Hunterville is the today’s goal. Wellington the final stop of North Island is drawing near. *Today’s Distance: 48.79km *Total Distance From Auckland: 549.43km * See More Photos

Taking a day off, late start at 6am. Climbing hills gradually damages my body as well as my legs. I was OK yesterday though. Probably 2-week-run is knocking me out little by little. Anyway I got to take good care of myself for running in South Island. Still a long way to go. Scattered showers in the morning. Weather is not stable yesterday and today. In addition, it’s pretty chilly between 4 and 15 degrees. It’s a climate of March in Osaka, Japan. South wind from Antarctic is so cold. I know here I am in Southern Hemisphere. Walking around downtown Taihape. It’s interesting to learn the culture walking around each town. Watching people, shops and stores… I can understand how local people live their lives. Looking around at Brown Sugar Cafe Sports. I asked the owner to take some photos so as to introduce outdoor culture in NZ to people in Japan. It was the first time for me to see cafe and sports shop. Although I have seen some cafes combined wi...

Left Waiouru at 7:30. Seems like it rained last night. Pretty chilly 7 degrees!! Altitude got down to 400 meters even though I had some up and downs. During a boring run, I have fun playing with sheep. “Here comes a wolf!” When I shout like that, I find it fun to see how sheep react. Most of the sheep get away from me all of a sudden but a few sheep ignore me. Funny how I know each sheep live its own life. At rest area just 4km before Taihape, Howard and Jan said hello to me and treated a cup of coffee and blueberry muffin. Both of them seem to like cycling and traveling so much that we enjoyed chatting for a while. About 1pm I finished today’s run at a motel in Taihape. I ran 500km in 2 weeks, which means I can run 1000km in one month. The owner Jenny asked me some questions about my travel. I was glad she would like to support me. She offered me a room which usually cost 80 dollar in 50 dollars. To make matters better, as soon as I checked...

Start my day at 4am. Had a weird dream…wonder why native Mexicans show up and I was still a teacher… Around 5, some tourist were there already eating breakfast. We were talking about our travel. Left the motel before 6. Start climbing!! My target was Road Summit of Desert Road(State Highway 1), 1074m. The grade of the hill was generally 6-8 percent. Shoulders were as wide as my buggy “VIENTO” but traffic was not that heavy. Feeling so high under the sunshine surrounded by clean air. Snow-capped Mt.Tongariro motivated me so much. Funny I shed tears the reason I didn’t know. To tell the truth, I first thought there was no desert in New Zealand but it was a lie. So the first time I heard the name of DESERT ROAD, I thought it was only a name. Watching the map, there were no towns, no stores, no accomodation. There were some rest areas but all they had was rubbish bin and picnic tables. Of course there were no cows, horses, goats and sheep. Had a desert s...

Woke up at 4am. Had a strange dream…I lost something important and I got lost somewhere along the way… Went to bed at 9pm last night but it was kind humid and warm enough… Left Taupo about 6am. Cloudy, kind of chilly. In the morning on week days, I often see school bus come and go. The drivers or kids in the bus cheers me waving their hands. This morning a cyclist John said hello while he was riding to his office. Chatting for just 5 minutes. He said, “I see lots of cyclist riding from abroad in NZ but for the first time I saw a cross-country runner like you!” Following State Highway 1 heading to the south. It was a scenic route along Lake Taupo, which reminded me of the scene of Lake Biwa. Shoulders were narrow but most of the cars were kind enough to give some space. Had scattered shower and had to run against the wind in the morning. I was happy that there were some rest areas along the way. Glad if there are some picnic tables and toilets. Bu...

Taking a day off in Taupo. Got some picture postcards and postage stamps yesterday. It’s been a long time since I last wrote letters with a pen. It took me a longer time than I had expected to finish. Now we’re living digital era. I felt how hard it was to write letters by hand. Something like that used to be common in analog era. In fact digital has totally changed our world and lives. But we cannot say digital controls everything. Indeed digital has made our life more convenient but I’d like to say no to the idea that digital has made everyone happy. We are human beings. We see, hear and feel something everyday. Communication should be done between us face to face. No matter how long it takes, we should tell what we should do. That’s what human beings are for. As we are the generation who know both digital and analog, we can make the best use of both. And I hope something good on analog will last till the end. Brand-new YouTube movie from New Ze...

It’s been 2 weeks since I left Japan, and 10 days have passed since I left Auckland. Funny how time flies. A week to go till December starts. Woke up at 5. Cabin was built along the highway and every time car passed by I felt the house shaking just like earthquake. While I was sleeping, my bed shook so often. Anyway the dawn breaks. Left Golden Springs at 7. Following State Highway 5. Traffic was mostly quiet. Didn’t mind narrow shoulders. Huka Falls. Followed gravel trail after I left Huka Falls. The grade of the hill was maybe 15 percent, too steep to climb. It was the maximum level I could push all by myself. Just about a few kilometers but it was exciting and thrilling. No fence on the right side where the Waikato River runs. On the way to town center, I stopped by at Taupo Bungy. Just 20 years ago, in 1994, I tried 43meter bungy jumping for the first time in my life. Took some photos out there. I was too scared to try jumping this time. ...

The day breaks at 5am, taking a quick shower and get ready for the departure. I should have said “Thank you” to the owner Akira. The office was closed. I was sorry to leave without saying goodbye. But fortunately he sent me a message via messenger. If anyone who travels in New Zealand, visit and stay at Spa Lodge Backpackers Hostel in Rotorua!! It’s a quite cozy place to stay overnight. Leaving Rotorua before 7am. Cloudy but in the late morning sunny breaks. Following a trail running along State Highway 5. Scenery still looked the same, vast farming area. In the afternoon, followed the narrow shoulder of SH5. Traffic was not so heavy and the route was good enough with less steep hills. Felt like the first summer day in the afternoon today. The ray of the sun seemed to stick on my back. Finished running at Golden Springs Holiday Park at 4pm. The owner Melany was kind enough to give me some food such as cheese, bread and eggs because the store nearby ...

Taking a perfect day-off in my room of Spa Lodge. Didn't go anywhere just taking a break, sipping a cup of coffee, chatting some companies, doing laundry... Isn't it sometimes fun to figure out something uncommon in a daily life without running? See More Photos

Woke up at 4am to get ready for early departure. When I tried to get out of the hallway, I noticed the door of the left-side chain locked. Usually the reception is open at 8am. I cannot wait. I have no idea what to do. But I made up my mind to unload whole the luggage of mine and folded down my buggy, then got out of the narrow door. Left the city of Tauranga at 6:40. One thing I have to keep in my mind is… everything that happens each day has its own meaning. What’s important is to think about the meaning, not to complain about the matter. Accept what’s going on around me as it is and see how it matters to me. Followed State Highway 36 getting out of the city. Entering the highway, no shops at all. All I saw was vast farm land and orchard. Seems like sheep cows and horses creating peaceful world. Hills were tougher and harder than I had imagined. I passed more than 20, maybe 30 hills along the way. Some were 10 present grade, too steep to climb push...

Woke up at 7. Quite chilly with no heater at all. Both sleeping bag and sleeping bag cover kept me warm enough. A lady whom I met at the office of the caravan park owns a cafe. As she told me to stop at the cafe on the way and that’s what I did. The owner treated me cafe latte, lemon cream cake and cheese & mince pie. Followed State Highway 2. Some hills and kind of heavy traffic not so comfortable though. 20.5km from Omokoroa, I arrived at downtown Tauranga but it’s too early to check in at Harbourside City Backpackers. So I walked around the harbor. It’s been fine all day but windy. Warm enough the temperature around 20 degrees. I borrowed rent a bike, cycled to pak’n’ save the supermarket. Over 200km from Auckland, still a long way to go. *Today’s Distance: 20.52km *Total Distance from Auckland: 209.95km * See More Photos:

Repeating the same thing everyday while traveling. What’s different is the type of accomodation or situation I’m in. Leaving Waihi at 6:45. Following State Highway 2 all the way. Shoulders of the road are as wide as my buggy “VIENTO” but how sad on the bridge shoulders are gone. Most of the bridge is as long as 20 to 30 meters. I have to rush and cross before the car passing me. Cars following me care about me while I care about cars following me. Log trucks often come and go. That’s only when I get serious. Rest areas are places where I relax myself. Sometimes I have to take my shoes off. Just one year ago I finished crossing the Nullarbor Plain, the desert plain which stretches as long as 1200km between Western and South Australia. When I reached Ceduna, the eastern entrance of the Nullarbor, I was so happy as to shed tears. Had a tough and hard time as for food and water. I was not able to eat and drink enough. One year has passed now I eat just 1.5 to 2...

Perfect sleep for more than 10 hours. Left Ngatea at 6:45 under the cloudy sky. 20km to Paeroa and followed State Highway 26. Tailwind helped me almost all the way, sometimes wind came from the west, which didn’t bother me at all. From Paeroa I followed the Tauraki Railtrail which is only for cyclist and walkers(runners). It was a nice trail, so quiet and I saw some cyclists come and go. About 1km-long tunnel was on the way, wet and very dark. About 3:30, I finished running at a motel in Waihi. Waihi is also a town which was so famous for the gold rush in 1800s. I don’t eat that much even if I run 40-60km per day. 2 cereal bars and chocolate bar were all I ate while running. I had 2 slices of toast, cereal with dried prune and some nuts, milk, banana, a cup of coffee. For dinner, I had 2 slices of toast, canned tuna, some nuts, orange, apple, banana and vegetable soup. I can run without eating, I mean I can run eating minimum meals. I don’t have to ha...

Woke up at 5 but too tired to get out of bed. So I kept sleeping until I woke up next around 8. I wondered why I slept for so long… though I went to bed at 9pm last night. Yes, muscle aches here and there. Not only legs but also my upper body. No problems. It’s as is usual the case on the 2nd day of my run. So I take a day-off at the town of Ngatea. Visited the office to say hello and had to pay for the charge for tonight. The owner was a nice lady who had been to Japan. Seemed like she loved talking. She talked twice or three times as much as I did. Anyway I guess she enjoyed talking with me. She was not really satisfied with talking yet but had a good time with me. Half an hour later, it started raining all of a sudden. Dark gray sky means I have to stay calm and take a break. Wrote some reports and mail magazine. Walked around downtown Ngatea in the evening, when the rain stopped. How quiet a town it is! Small town with population about 1000 is a...

Woke up at 5. Breakfast was ready at the kitchen where Sharon the owner of the B&B was. What a heavy breakfast! Coffee, 2 pcs of toast, two fried eggs, two sausages and crispy and chewy bacon. Enjoyed chatting with Sharon. Left Pet Shari Lodge a few minutes past 7. I thanked Sharon for a wonderful stay. We hugged and said goodbye. Back on the road again. Stay back on the route where I ran yesterday. Some small hills and entered State Highway 2. No sidewalk and shoulders were not so wide, just as wide as my buggy VIENTO. Got to care about the traffic especially big trucks and trailers. Also I had a bit hard time at dusty construction area. Gravel, uneven and unpaved road was a mess. How sad I had no choice at all! I’m always wondering why I’m in trouble with no toilet along the way. In the desert in Australia I can manage almost everywhere. But here in New Zealand, I got to be a gentleman. I stopped at by the rest areas where there was no toil...

Finally I left Auckland heading to the south.  Cloudy. 12 degrees Celsius. They say there’s no flat road in New Zealand. That might be true.  About 30km from Auckland, the scenery looks so rural, something like farming area with lots of sheep and cows.  I just kept running and kept silent with no one to talk to.  It’s a good opportunity for me to enjoy talking to myself and to have enough time to face myself.  Finished running about 1:30pm in Bombay.  Now I’m staying at B&B called Petshari Lodge.  Sharon is the owner, she’s a very nice lady.  I was invited to BBQ party where there about 15 people coming together.  I drank beer and wine and tried salmon and shark.  Hope the weather will be nice this weekend.  Distance Today: 41.74km  See More Photos

It’s important for a traveler to act and think naturally. I guess I don’t need any reason to depend upon my thoughts and action. If there’s any reason, it can bother me and it won’t do me good . There’ll be some times when experience doesn’t help me at all. It’s also necessary to think it’s no wonder anything will happen. Be cool. Stay cool all the time. Panic will bring another harm. According to my philosophy, stay cool, stay calm and never give up…We got to be slow and mellow. Although that’s what no one has ever taught me, if there’d be Samurai from some centuries ago, they would feel that way, I guess. Be tolerant and positive. Accept everything happening in this world. Things will go their own way. Que sera sera…Whatever Will Be, Will Be!

Strolled around the downtown of Auckland. To know about the country, all we got to do is walk around the cities. Learn how people live and think by watching them. Do in New Zealand as the Kiwis do…that’s right. A young Japanese man came and see me. Nob used to be my student who had graduated from the school I used to work. He goes to school and at night he works at night. He’s been here in Auckland for over a year. He showed me around the city and helped me get WiFi router. It was really necessary for me to survive the journey. Late afternoon another young lady was together. Yukiko, who is a daughter of a friend of mine, is from Fukuoka, Kyushu. She came here about a month ago to study English. Yes, she’s new to Auckland City. We had a chat for a while. Nob and Yukiko told me about their dreams. Everybody has his/her own dream and doing their best each and every day to make it come true. They motivated me a lot. Even young fellows like them were so ambiti...

Still staying in Auckland to get ready for the departure of my running trek. Saturday will be the DAY1 of PEACE RUN 2014 Running Across New Zealand. On the 2nd day I ran to Meadowbank School where I complete a mission of my own. One of my friends, whose son studied at school 26 years ago and he had planted a cherry tree at the schoolyard, asked me to take some pictures of the tree. Then that's what I did. First I visited the office of the school and a lady showed me around the school. Even the oldest teacher who had been working almost a quarter century there at school didn't know the historical fact. There was only one cherry tree of which the flowers had already dropped off.  I was sure that was it. I saw some school kids playing and laughing which healed my mind. Then I realized I was running to help create WORLD PEACE. That's for sure.

Here I am at Auckland now! 16-hour flight was a bit too long but I had a good time. Finally another journey has begun. PEACE RUN Running Across New Zealand  starts here. Will spend some days to get ready for the trek. Hope you enjoy my running journey together with me! See my official site to know where I am. More info is available on facebook page.

I want to be more sophisticated by traveling. I want to experience anything with lively curiosity. I want to love anyone more through encountering them. The farther we travel, the nicer we become. We learn to become more generous to anything. We learn to love the mother earth more. Another 5 days to go before “ PEACE RUN2014 Running Across New Zealand ”