We had camped the night before not far from Hamilton, a major town on the North Island. This day was an easy riverside trail, with plans to reach town early to rest. The walk was straightforward and not too long, so our steps felt light.
As we strolled along the river toward Hamilton, an adorable dog came running toward us, followed by a sweet elderly couple who approached us. Curious to see us walking with large backpacks so early in the morning, they stopped to chat with us.
What we were doing amazed them, and they revealed a hint of regret—they, who had traveled abroad often in their youth, seemed not to know their own country as deeply as we did. The elderly couple began discussing whether they should take another long-overdue trip within their own country.
And at that moment, I too fell into the same reflection.
A while later, so as not to delay our itinerary, they decided to walk a section of the track with us while we chatted. Before we parted ways, the elderly gentleman took a photo of us and posted it on Facebook to record our encounter, which only strengthened my resolve about what I wanted to do next: to know my homeland better, and to help others know it too.
(Revisiting diary entry from 2017/1/8)
https://www.facebook.com/creyanet/posts/1274574145924105:0
📍 Te Araroa Trail | New Zealand 3,000 Kilometre Hiking Diary| Back to full series index
