It had already been seven days without a shower
Even while hiking in New Zealand as autumn was arriving, my skin couldn’t handle it and was producing all the bodily secretions it should. From my hair tips to roots, everything was sticky with the past days’ air and dust.
Watching the little insects on the ground swerve around me, I couldn’t help but wonder if my smell had frightened them, hearing the buzzing near my ears and worrying whether I’d already caught the attention of flies. Now entering a town with increasingly more people, I felt every mixture of emotions (the hair smell, the shirt smell, and… I don’t even want to count the rest), my hat brim pulled low, trying to cover the bangs that were betraying just how filthy I was.
I noticed a woman in the car park had been staring at me since she parked, and now as she got out of her car, her expression became clearer. She was frowning with suspicion as she looked at me, seeming to hesitate whether to say something to me.
‘Could she think I’m a vagrant?’ Well, by some definition I suppose I am. ‘Or does she hate the sound of my trekking poles striking the ground disturbing her?’ I’d had that sort of criticism before.
Just as I was slowly walking past her, she walked toward me at the same pace. ‘I’d like to ask you, what are you doing?’ Her voice made me stop. Unable to discern the intent behind her question, I carefully explained that I was walking a trail called the Te Araroa Trail, crossing the North and South Islands of New Zealand.
‘I live nearby and have seen several people like you pass by. I’ve always been curious about what you’re doing. But today, for some reason, seeing you suddenly made me decide to talk to you and finally get my answer.’ We ended up standing there talking for half an hour, about the trail, about me, about her.
Finally she said, ‘I’ve been thinking lately about what changes I need to make in my life. I want to set out on a journey, but I don’t know where to go. Today, seeing you and what you’re doing has given me a direction. Thank you.’
‘I feel honoured that among all these people doing the same thing you’ve seen, I’m the one you decided to speak to first. Thank you. Any insight you’ve gained is because of your own actions,’ I replied.
And another act of courage from her was taking a photo up close with messy me.
(Recalling diary entry from 2017/5/2)
📍 Te Araroa Trail | New Zealand 3,000km Hiking Diary| Return to full series index
