Start – Camp Elsdon, Porirua / Wellington
Finish – Wellington
Daily Distance – 32 km + 11 km
TA Distance – 1733 km
It was pointed out to me the other day that during the course of this trip I have “done a Proclaimers”. That
is, like the song says, having walked 500 miles and then walked 500 more. Curiously, that fact hadn’t
really registered with me. I write down the TA Distance figure each day, but it is a long time since I have
really stopped to think what it represents. The numbers involved are too big and the distance remaining
still so great that it is usually reduced in my mind to just a meaningless number, devoid of significance. In
the often competitive world of thru-hiking it is refreshing to remember that no matter how fast or slow,
and no matter how easy or hard the kilometres come, everyone who reaches this point has accomplished
something amazing. I have certainly fallen into the trap in recent weeks of feeling like the walk should be
easier than I am finding it. People often say that only those who have made a journey like this can
understand what it is truly like, but whatever the truth of that, it is certainly a blessing to have friends and
family on hand to supply a dose of perspective every once in a while. For now at least, even though I will
probably still struggle going up hills until I reach distant Bluff, I’m remembering to take a moment to be
proud of what I have accomplished these past months. It has been difficult to maintain good cheer and
optimism on occasion, but it has been made easier through the support of loved ones at home and new
friends met on the road. And when those both fail, the occasional ranting blog post!
The final walk into the city and subsequent walk to the ocean were fairly unremarkable, but enjoyable,
nonetheless. News from home that a good friend and his wife are expecting their first child in the summer
lightened my step and the kilometres have passed eaaier than they have in some time. Such was the
optimism engendered by the news that I was able to bear the wind continually catching my rucksack and
trying to blow me into every passing bush and shrub with relative equanimity. I could instead be thankful
that owing to the greatly improved airflow, for the first time in several days I finally had dry shoes.
My time in Wellington has been a mix of work and leisure. Much of my time has been spent running
errands like collecting my paper maps for the south island, replacing some worn out clothes and most
importantly posting my food resupply box ahead. As it turns out I rather overestimated the time I would
need to get everything prepared and would have been ready to catch a ferry today, rather than waiting
until tomorrow afternoon. Still, Wellington does boast nice parks and an attractive waterfront, so sitting in
the sun and reading is hardly the worst way to spend a few hours.
