“What made you want to walk the length of New Zealand?” is a question I was often asked before, during and after my walk. It was never an easy question to answer. Each time as I struggled to find the words, the enquirer would prompt, “Was it a long-held dream?” “Did you spend a long-time planning your big adventure?” Those questions were easier to answer.  A few months before I set off from Cape Reinga I didn’t know anything about Te Araroa, New Zealand’s Long Pathway. I had a vague notion that it was possible to walk the entire length of the country by connecting up existing tracks, but that was about it. It never crossed my mind that I would be capable of walking the length of the country, and I had never had any desire to try.

But, as is often the case, things in life change. I was thinking about leaving my job and rather than going straight into a new job, I thought that I would take a month off to reset. I liked the idea of doing some tramping during that time, so I joined the Tramping in New Zealand Facebook group. While researching what tracks to explore, I came across a blog about Te Araroa (http://teararoa.g2.co.nz/). Once I started reading Matt Gordon’s delightfully detailed blog posts I was hooked and thought to myself, “I could do that!”

It meant, of course, that I would have to take much longer than a month off work. Luckily, I had some cash in the bank that was earmarked for new furniture. What if I forgot about buying the furniture and did this instead? Once I got the idea in my head that was it; I knew I would have to do it – or at least try. There is a line in a poem by Mary Oliver that say, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” I decided that this was a very good plan and there was no better time than now. My work colleagues thought I had gone slightly crazy. They asked a lot of questions, many of which I didn’t yet have the answer to. My children thought it was an awesome idea, but they’re used to my crazy notions.

So, I guess the answer to “Why?” is “Because I can.” Even though I’m in my fifties, I’m in reasonably good shape. I would get properly fit doing this walk and no doubt also lose the extra five kilos that seem to have sneaked on in the last few years. Not being in a relationship and with my youngest child now nineteen and able to take care of himself (and the cat), I have no ties. And if I can overcome the many challenges involved, it will do wonders for my self-confidence. Best of all, I would get that ‘reset’ I was after. So, let’s go!