“Would you like to walk together?” Such a simple sentence, yet it changed my entire journey.
The next campsite is 30 kilometres away…
Though official information said we could camp freely behind the raised sand dunes nearby, the seawater in front of me was visible but undrinkable. On this beach that felt like a desert, I needed to resupply water.
So on the third day of hiking, I had to set a campsite 30 kilometres ahead as my target. My body was still adjusting; the day before, I’d already endured 28 kilometres of beach walking with the same scenery and pace. This would be a major challenge for both body and mind.
Just as I was packing, a French guy who’d camped at the same site the night before suddenly asked me: “Would you like to walk together?”
My solitary journey suddenly took a turn. Then on the road, we met another Belgian woman we’d camped with, and she asked: “Would you like to walk together?”
Conversation eased the monotony of the long road, jokes during breaks lightened the 30 kilometres, and our mutual encouragement as a group of three had us collapsing at the campsite 9 hours later, shouting with satisfaction: “We did it!”
I kept thinking, if I hadn’t walked with them that day, the thought “Why am I even here?” might have haunted me. I might not have made it to 30 kilometres, and would I have quit the trail altogether?
But after that day, strangers became important parts of each other’s journey memories. And a solo journey is never truly solo.
On the Te Araroa Trail, we set out solo yet could walk together with others.
As we walked together, we’d sometimes chat, sometimes stay quiet, sometimes sing and dance, and sometimes listen to our own music.
We didn’t need to talk constantly, but every moment when we’d set our packs aside, sit down, and chat was something to look forward to and unforgettable—like pulling into a station to recharge, gaining renewed spirits to keep pushing forward.
On the fourth day of our journey, we continued walking together on Ninety Mile Beach. Though we’d seen the same scenery for four days, we couldn’t deny it was still beautiful. But what was even more beautiful was always the stories between people.
(Reflecting on 28–29 November 2016)
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