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The Te Araroa Was Great but What Happened to the Rest of 2020?
To say 2020 didn’t quite go the way most people planned would be an understatement. Along with travel restrictions and lockdowns, loved ones were lost, weddings cancelled, and ordinary life completely disheveled. After returning from New Zealand, I struggled in finding a new normal. I stopped working on my travel blog and did my best to separate myself from social media. I just needed a break from it all, a moment to reset and find balance, but I wasn’t quite sure how. It was a difficult journey but beautiful in countless ways. I’ve got a lot planned for 2021, but for now I’ll do a quick flash back on the…
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Post Thru-Hiking Depression: 6 Practices to Help You Fight It
Woo, you completed your thru-hike! You walked for hours each and every day over mountains, across rivers, through thigh-deep mud or snow; fighting off frozen fingers, mischievous wildlife, and the occasional rouge tree root; and you made it! You accomplished something most people only dream about! Now what? The adventure is over and “real life” is knocking at your door. It’s no surprise depression often choses this moment to rear its ugly head. Think about it. You just spent months outside, sleeping under the stars, pushing your body past its limits, and forging deep meaningful relationships. Transitioning back into “normal” life can often prove more difficult than the hike…
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Te Araroa: My Knee
5.11.2019 Day 16 (18km) Not gonna lie I was in heaps of pain today. My knee was absolutely killing me and unfortunately, the painkillers weren’t even touching it. We said an early goodbye to Rose and Hubert before heading into the forests of ferns and vines. Although the inclines and declines were nothing compared to what we had been through in the days prior, at one point I was seconds away from crying. Thankfully, the steps disappeared…by steps I mean roots and stones, and the slopes mellowed to gradual climbs. Sam and I walked together most of the day, chatting about life, our hopes for the trail, and travel. Near…
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Te Araroa: Northern Trail Magic
1.11.19 Day 12 (0km) My body was so grateful for a rest day. I slept in, resupplied, and hung out in the hot tub at my hostel, Centabay. It was definitely worth the extra day of walking to take a break in Paihia. Although the town was smaller than Kerikeri, it was absolutely beautiful, with beach views and the calming hush of waves. 2.11.2019 Day 13 (17km Kayaking, 15km hike) Today was magical! I had heard about trail magic before I started the trip, people going out of their way to be kind and help arriving when you need it most. Well, today was my first experience with it. On…
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Te Araroa: The Northern Forests Part 2
29.10.2019 Day 9 (25km) With one foot on either side of the muddy ravine, I prayed that the terrain would hold as I swung myself over. If it didn’t, I would end up with a broken leg, or worse. It had rained all night and morning, leaving the track slick and dangerous. Ben and Tobi encouraged me from the other side; their longer legs had given them a slight advantage when they crossed over. It wasn’t our first sticky spot that day and it wouldn’t be the last. Later on, Ben would literally have to pull me up a slope of sheer mud. The beginning of the walk had been…
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Te Araroa: The Northern Forests Part 1
25.10.2019 Day 5 (15km) My feet are decomposing, at least that’s what it looks like. My eight blisters didn’t have time to breathe of the beach so the skin has become puckered and tender. Fortunately, we only had road walking today. My body is still sore but at least there were things to occupy my attention and no sand. Not being constantly assaulted by heavy winds was also a blessing. I’m honestly a bit worried about my feet. I need them to callous over and at times the pain is almost unbearable. I feel like I’m not enjoying the hike as much as I should be because each step is…
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Te Araroa: Ninety Mile Beach
21.10.2019 Day 1 (12km) The mild weather and gentle breeze made it the perfect day for hiking. After a quick photo at the iconic Cape Reinga marker we followed the dirt path through knee-high bushes and down the cliffs overlooking the place where the Pacific and the Tasman Sea intermingle. My smile was as wide as my face, and if my face had been larger, the smile would have grown to accommodate it. Everything I had heard about the beach was bad. People dreaded it as much as the plague, or so it seemed. From where I was standing, however, I couldn’t conceive why. The earlier tides had…
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Te Araroa: The Days Before
I knew I would meet people along the hike; I just didn’t expect to meet someone thirty minutes after leaving the airport. The Department of Conservation (DOC) center closed at 17:00, and since I was leaving the next morning on the 7:30 bus to Kaitaia, I had to make it that day. Rather than stop at my hostel and drop off all my gear, I rushed across town to the quay. The center was empty save for a couple booking tickets to a tourist town on the east coast. I hung around patiently until a woman came out from the back to assist me. While we were processing my payment…
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Australia: Looking Back
On my flight back to California, I spent my time alternating between blogging and watching Star Trek: Discovery. When I attempted to write this post, I realized that I couldn’t, as, to quote one of my favorite shows, I was “emotionally compromised.” I had held it together pretty well, shedding a few tears while making a farewell Facebook post, but when the first boarding call came over the speakers I broke down. The crying didn’t stop until we were in the air and I managed to lose myself in SciFi. Travel is difficult in countless ways. There are those of us, however, who find the pros outweigh the cons. Australia…
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Perth Unexpected
I liked Perth way more than I had anticipated. It was a city to be certain, yet it maintained a homey, small town vibe. Every neighborhood we explored was, for lack of a better word, adorable, with their quaint painted store fronts and eclectic eateries. Greenery appeared to be an integral part of the city, which cut down on the concrete jungle feel. Not to mention all the reserves and National Parks surrounding the city. Oh, and let’s not forget the pristine beaches that were actually safe to swim in. It took less than a day before Looci and I were both saying we wished we had moved to Perth…
Insights and Stories Through the Eyes of a Wanderer
