I'm back in Wellington and slowly absorbing the fact that my walking life for the last 6 months has now finished. I couldn't even sit down until now and update these blog pages with the final few days as that would've meant that my huge adventure would actually be over. It is such a weird feeling as I keep thinking there is something I'm supposed to be doing - but then have to stop and say to myself, 'actually you're finished now. Done. Complete. Ended. It's over'. Part of me does not want to let it go, and yet I'm relieved it has finished. I really liked what the Te Araroa challenge did for me - it brought out the very best of who I am while I was away and I want to be able to keep that momentum going, so I guess this will be my next challenge to keep that person 'front of house' at all times.
Since being back I've also found it is actually very difficult to stop physical activity when you have been so highly active everyday and I'm finding myself walking into town, going for runs during the day and am overall generally fidgety now that I'm back in Wellington. Probably not a bad thing that I keep up the fitness levels and make it more a priority in my future world. The people I met while walking through New Zealand have really given me great confidence that overall we are such a positive, hospitable nation of people. I never had a direct bad people related experience when I was walking or staying anywhere in the last 6 months and never felt I had to worry about my safety. The only odd thing was being left at a bus stop with the bus driving past me on one of my loop catch up sections in Mercer. Other than that one instance, I have never felt so humbly grounded and thankful for the kindness people have shown me. Even on that one occasion with the bus, someone then went totally of their way from their home to drive me to where I needed to go. The support from strangers has been beyond belief. All the international Te Araroa walkers and fellow Kiwis I met along the way were such inspiring, unique people and I really felt I was travelling the world in my own country every day. I just loved the variety of the people and the different approaches they brought to a very challenging journey through New Zealand. The conversation and laughs we had kept spirits high during some tough days and I learnt a lot about humanity. Friendships and bonds form quickly when you are in extreme circumstances - hunger, tiredness, unwashed bodies, limited privacy, basic tolieting, dangerous terrain and challenging weather conditions strip people right back to the raw core, so you met the real person, not their outside world package. A great learning experience of tolerance and acceptance. My family and friends have been a huge part of the success of my walk. Their love, encouragement, friendship and company while walking parts of the trail has been energy beneath the soles of my feet many times along the way. The excitement and joy they shared with me when reaching each milestone of the journey throughout New Zealand meant I never really felt alone. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time out to pursue a personal goal to complete the Te Araroa trail and look forward to the challenges that may lay ahead in years to come. While the 3000km trail has now been walked and finished - the personal, physical and mental boundaries have been forever broadened and I can now see are actually endless. It will never really be over.
2 Comments
Pauline
11/5/2016 10:36:07 pm
Wow, wow and wow, speechless! Well done, amazing, words just don't cover it.
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Frances
15/6/2016 09:51:06 pm
What a beautiful sentiment! Enjoying reading your blog as I start to plan my own TA adventure for next year. Thanks for sharing.
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HelloI'm Sophia Lewis and 2015 is the year I am going to commence walking the NZ Te Araroa Trail. This blog will track my progress from Cape Reinga to Bluff + Stewart Island. I start walking on the 23rd Oct and plan to finish mid April. Archives
April 2016
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