Brando Yelavich Continues His Epic Journey To Become The First Person To Walk The Entire New Zealand Coastline...

A few days ago I had the delight of catching up with my young friend Brando on the Mahia Peninsula. Wildboy is the name he's using these days but since I met him on day two of his epic adventure to walk the entire New Zealand coastline, this remarkable young person has become an inspirational man.
His parents Todd and Donella have every reason to be immensely proud of their son with his attention deficit disorder and his dyslexia for achieving what nobody has ever achieved.
Many have talked about it but Brando is walking the talk and when he reaches Cape Reinga in early August he'll deserve every accolade that comes his way.
He will have conquered his first Everest.
He's got others in mind, like writing a book, continuing to inspire others, being the first person to climb a mountain on the moon and getting a car.
He jokes he's fed up with walking.
As you might well imagine he's had some wonderful adventures on his journey, catching his first Hapuka at Ngawi with my friend Malcolm was one, living off the land has been an incredible experience and he's met many amazing people.
Some like Tarsh from Dunedin have gone to great lengths to travel part of the way with him.
Right now she's walking with him from Mahia up the coast to Gisborne on the East Cape. You can follow Brando every step of the way too and on that matter, so far he reckons he's made over seven and a half million steps on the five thousand eight hundred kilometers already walked.
It was great to see him but I'm glad I'm not carrying his pack.
It's so heavy I could hardly lift it.
I'll catch up with him again before Cape Reinga.
And yes Brando. Life is good...

Remember Brando Yelavich Aka Alexander Supertramp? He's Now Walked 2,700 Kilometers Around New Zealand's Amazing Coastline...

You might remember back in February I met up with then nineteen year old Brando in New Zealand's Far North. You can see him here.
He was on Day 3 of his epic trek around New Zealand's rugged and beautiful coastline. Nobody had ever succeeded in doing this before.
Now this delightful young man with dogged determination has traversed two thousand seven hundred kilometers to the Buller River in the South Island's Westland region.
I remember him saying his walk would take around six months as if it were a stroll in the park. I said I thought it more likely to take two or three years.
He's got thousands of kilometers to go but Brando had this dream. And he's doing it...

Nineteen Year Old Brandon Yelavich aka Alexander Supertramp Intends To Be The First Person To Walk Around The Entire New Zealand Coastline...

Many have considered it.
Nobody has ever done it. It's too daunting.
You really need to be only nineteen to consider it and Brando fortunately doesn't know how daunting it might be. He's sure to find out.
This is undoubtedly his Everest.
His loving parents are fearful for their son but support him in his endeavour.
Brandon was inspired to do this walk by the wonderful film Into The Wild, the true story of Christopher McCandless who re-named himself Alexander Supertramp and abandons the life of comfort his parents wealth could provide to pursue the freedom of life on the road.
This road less travelled takes him to the great Alaskan wilderness where eventually he eats some poisonous berries and unfortunately pays the ultimate sacrifice.
Brando has taken to using the name Alexander Supertramp. I hope he has more luck with it.
He walked into Utea Park at Huketere just metres from New Zealand's famous Ninety Mile Beach. The Flying Tortoise and I had been there for some days partaking of the bounty of the sea.
Young Supertramp had three fresh fish tied to his decorated walking stick.
He'd earlier found a dead shark on the beach, cut some strips of flesh for bait, walked into the sea with his collapsable fishing rod and caught the fish.
We cooked his fish, gave him dinner and made him comfortable for the night in a little cabin.
He'd walked his first sixty eight kilometres since his father and uncle had driven him to New Zealand's furtherest northern point, Cape Reinga, three days earlier.
They watched as the young son and nephew started a journey that will take a minimum of 6431 kilometres and possibly over seventeen thousand kilometres.
They know this journey will be life changing and will take some time.
Dyslectic young Supertramp who also has ADHD and has had his share of trouble with the law doesn't intend to end life the way his hero did and has a copy of Andrew Crowe's Native Edible Plants of New Zealand to guide him on his journey of self sufficiency.
This endearing young man wears a tattoo,
a family motto, which says What goes around comes around and in the end only kindness matters.
Go well my young friend Supertramp...