Taking on Te Araroa - fundraising for the MS society

As an ode to my favourite snack while on the trail i'll start with a pun.. And that’s a (peanut butter and date) wrap! I've done it! I've walked from Cape Rienga to Bluff, a 3000km journey, over 5 months and 130 days of walking. Pictured here is our group of Te Araroa walkers finishing together in our eclectic outfits, flaunting the pearls that an Invercargill op-shop had to offer. It's been just over a month since I finished my journey in Bluff, and yet reflecting on my experience, its every bit still mysterious, sacred and difficult to summarise. But seeing as I've received a reminder that my Givealittle page has finished its projected dates, you are all owed an update!

Thinking back to those early days of innocence starting at Cape Reinga, crisp unworn white shirts, with no real idea what we were getting ourselves into, Im so glad now I went foot-first into this adventure, I've learnt so much about myself, my body, other people and the beauty of Aotearoa. Te Araroa you've exposed me to a grand magnificence that I hadn’t known, like the scale of the mountains, waterfalls and alpine lakes I marvelled at in the South Island. Te Araroa, you've been mindfully small, like the neighbourly chirp and acrobatic dance of the Pīwakawaka that reminds me I’m never alone in the bush. Te Araroa, you’ve presented many challenges like navigating slips in the Tararuas, capsizes on the Whanganui, scantly placed trail markings in Canterbury, muddy mayhem in Northland, death by blistered feet on ninety mile beach, rationing a dwindling food supply in the Richmonds, waist high mud in Southland, and cyclone-powered river crossings in Manawatu just to name a few. But in spite of all these challenges Te Araroa, you’ve also provided a glimpse into a lifestyle every bit less complicated, simple and fulfilling, one where you walk till you get hungry and eat, walk till you get tired and tent, and walk every day because at every corner there’s something new, something beautiful awaiting you. Te Araroa, you’ve helped to strengthen old friendships into something like a brotherhood, introduced me to an inspired network of new friends and even introduced me to some enemies (I’m looking at you speargrass, matagouri and bush lawyer…). I’ve never felt more connected to my friends at home and those on the social media cosmos, despite great geographical divides, who generously offered donations and messages of support – what a trip, I cannot describe how surreal it feels to have money donated for a cause and to support a journey like this one, I can only say that it helped keep me motivated and full of gratitude. On that theme, I am proud to say that with the help of the donations, we raised $1300 for the National MS society of New Zealand. Te Araroa, you’ve shown me that even in the midst of a pandemic so isolating, the grace of humanity, and the gift of kindness is always with us and always feels significant.

“Elegance is to get rid of all the superfluous things and focus on the most beautiful” – this quote from Paulo Coelho, (the author of 'The Alchemist' – a man familiar with a pilgrimage) was such a fitting discourse for this journey. A hoarded op shopped wardrobed turned to wearing the same 2 shirts for 130 days. Seemingly endless tasks, jobs and uninspiring commitments turned to a full-time schedule of eating, sleeping, walking and appreciating. And perhaps the most significant, a busy mind that was prone to image, a restless productivity and concern for what others thought of me calmed to a peaceful clarity. Im often asked now what next? What are you going to do now? To be honest im uncertain of where my next step will take me on this gap year, but if the TA has taught me anything, this uncertainty, this potential is a good thing. My current plans are to live and work in an intentional community and organic farm in Golden Bay, a 10 day silent Vipassana retreat in Auckland and prepare my wairua to return to medicine by the end of the year!