Johnny's Great Hitch-Hiking Adventure

14/06/2026

Mission accomplished!

I am now back in Kamo after starting out from Kaeo this morning. Huge thanks to Steve and Kate who hosted me at their farmhouse last night under the Maunga Taratara, magic people

All up, 18 rides. One Mongrel Mob guy who was lovely, one drunkish driver, a couple of Aunties who were a little flirty, a few elderly ladies, a French couple, some young guys from Michigan, only one near head on collision because the driver decided to fang it through a roundabout in the wrong direction.

All in all it was a magnificent adventure. Bloody marvellous, so many wonderful people out there with all their various passions and gripes about the world.

And thanks to everyone for the support, you all rock 🪨

10/06/2026

Check out the inssta for Vlogs and updates. Adventure starts tomorrow!

09/06/2026

So tomorrow I fly up north to begin my thumbing journey to the top of the island via SH1 on Friday morning. I hope to stay dry (unlikely), to meet some amazing people (likely) and to have a bit of a break and an adventure, both of which are highly needed. Wish me luck!

04/06/2026

I will begin sending more updates and video soon, Any donations to MusicHelps can be made here:

Little Sophia is arriving soon and we are so excited to introduce her to you. For everyone who has been asking us what they could bring for her...

19/05/2026

Hey all, just a few short weeks before I depart on this wee hikoi. I want to give massive thanks to Rare Entertainment for their very generous donation, and all the excellent mahi they always supply. You fullas rock

This Gif below made me think, should I do this bare foot? 🤔

Any donations to Music Helps are highly appreciated and will lead to great work across a variety of communities. You can donate here: https://thegoodregistry.com/pages/swym-registry-gifter?registryId=2048143

13/05/2026

Hi all you wonderful people. It is a little under a month before I start this wee adventure, and I know I have been a little quiet about it but I have been festering away in the background.

After an awful lot of thought and research, I decided that any generous donations will be given to Music Helps which does an awful lot of great work, not only supporting those poor buggers working in the music industry, but also in supporting the wider community with a range of initiatives across many sectors such as music therapy and programs in aged and palliative care, low decile environments, and many other places. It would be pretty sick if you could show some support

I know, from personal experience, how brutal it can be working in the industry I do; it very nearly broke me recently. It was support from agencies such as Music Helps, that kept me from becoming far more weird than I already am.

Thanks errybody, please share to your friends and those you stalk on social media

Little Sophia is arriving soon and we are so excited to introduce her to you. For everyone who has been asking us what they could bring for her...

12/03/2026

I have a challenge ahead and would like some support on this one
So for a few months I have been wracking what remains of my brain synapses for something worthwhile to do for one of those rare moments when I get a break. All the usual holiday planning just seems like yet another logistical mission that, quite frankly, I can't be arsed with.
Those who know me well, or for a long time, may have heard me talk about one major mission that I have been very close to completing for a very long time and have never really found the time or mojo to complete and I have decided to put plans in motion to knock the bastard off
In a few bursts and for a variety of reasons, I have hitch-hiked almost the entire length of State Highway One. The only small part remaining is from Hikurangi in Northland, up to the tippy top in Cape Reinga. I plan to complete this (relatively small) trek in June
Now as most of my previous missions were in the alternate reality which was the 1990s, I thought it would ne best to replicate some of the extra challenges that existed then. While I will take a cellphone, it will merely be for social media, and perhaps safety, but I'll choose to use my wit, guile and charm for the most part to complete things
I am also setting myself a budget of $30 per day for food, drink and other expenses. If i can get from Invercargil to Christchurch at the age of 17 with $20 total then i should be able to easily get by with $30 per day
No public transport to be used. Unless its an ambulance i guess but let's hope that isn't needed
No hotels or other paid accommodation. I either get offered a place, or I find a random place to sleep near the road. If I can survive a cold frosty night sleeping in a paddock in Temuka in August with only a summer sleeping bag, then I can do this
Only state highway one. As much as the road through Kerikeri, Kaeo, Mangonui etc seems to be the much more touristic (and safer) option, I'm not doing this for tourist reasons
Now I love hitching. That mix of not knowing when you'll get a ride, maybe a minute, maybe a day; not knowing if it will be enlightening or terrifying, sometimes getting amazing insightful conversations and sometimes just absolute WTF moments, the whole thing fills me with excitement, especially at the prospect of once again getting that insight into people's lives whose paths you would otherwise probably never cross
I will be seeking to get some donations for charity and will appreciate support on this, more info to come soon.
I'm far more of a flogger than a vlogger but I hope that in recording the adventure, some people may open their pockets, or even timetables, to support some worthwhile causes
Anyhoo, this novel is finished and the first chapter begins in June. Leshgo! 👍