Taupo (Zero Days)

It’s Sunday, and to be honest, I was dreading this blog, as it signifies the end of my trek and I really don’t want it to end! After contemplating the concern for my knee, and especially the danger of heavy traffic and the road for this Easter weekend, I made the decision to finish my New Zealand trek here in Taupo. My flight home is next week and I really didn’t think it was prudent to push those last few days just to get in more trekking. At this point it really doesn’t matter if I end my trek here or a little further. I have achieved my goal of trekking New Zealand and am satisfied with it.

One of the things that helped with my decision was finding places to stay here during this booked up and busy Easter weekend. I had been fortunate to find a motel around the corner for Thursday night, but I couldn’t find anything for the next few days. After I moved to the Courtney Motel, I looked online for place with availability, but no luck. I even walked to several in the area and asked, but they too were booked. I considered taking a bus to the Bull Ring Motel, 24 miles away, just in case I wasn’t going to risk trekking there, which was still an option. On one last try I entered three days instead of two in my search, and the Tui Oaks Motel showed an opening for three days, and at a reasonable price too! Wow, I booked it not really looking at the facility or location very closely because I didn’t want to loose it.

As it turned out it is between my first and second motels, and one building away from the Courtney Motel. Less than a mile from the city center. Shockingly, the room was on the top floor (4th) and was out front with a direct lake view! The manager told me it was a last minute cancellation, and that she had just opened it back up when I found it. New Zealand jade stone again? Prayer, meditation? So, not a bad place to spend the last few days of my trek.

I have trekked 828 miles (1,333 kms) since Invercargill, in 52 days of actual walking, and averaged close to 16 miles (26 kms) per day on those days. I have seen and experienced beautiful places, and wild fluctuating weather, and most of all, met wonderful people. Not every day was great, but looking at every new day as, one day at a time, helped my mind not to have negative expectations.

I already have what is known as the Trekking Blues, which is typical on the Camino de Santiago, know as the Camino Blues. I suffered from it at the end of my treks to Canada and all my Caminos. It’s like going on a great vacation and then suddenly stopping and having to go back to work.

I still remember taking the train home after my Canada trek and walking part way home from the train station instead of having my son pick me up because it didn’t want it to end. Then I still wanted to pitch my tent at home that first night rather than sleeping in my bed. I have already felt the Trekking Blues here even though I have stayed in very nice motels, with lake views, and in a beautiful town.

Sure, it always felt great to have one or two zero days to sleep in late and rest, but usually after that second day I got restless because my body and mind wanted to get back to trekking. I felt it here after the second day too, and I’ve felt it every day since then.

Funny, but the second day here I was walking by MacDonald’s and saw two touring bikes loaded up with packs, and two obvious bike riders sitting near the window, and I went in to say hello. I had been feeling funny walking around town all day long and feeling like that “fish out of water” with the crowds of tourist who I didn’t feel I had anything in common with, and I wanted to talk with someone who I could relate to, and it turned out they were. They were a young couple from Switzerland who had been touring the South Island since February, about the time I started, and where now touring the North Island. They had started in Invercargill like me. We talked about the wild variations in weather temperatures and high winds. They showed me their photos and I showed them mine, and we had been to some of the same places. We talked for quite a while and I was a little envious of them when we said good bye as I knew they were still going on with their journey and I was stopping mine. They had never been to the States and after seeing some of my photos and stories about my Canada trek, they said it might be on their next list. They immediately asked if they could contact and stay with me, and I of course thinking of all those people that were kind and helpful to me, said absolutely!

That is one of the great things about the Camino. There are so many other people celebrating their achievements at the end in Santiago that you can just about reminisce with anyone about your trek. That’s why walking around this nice town has not been the same jubilation for me.

I have spent the last few days walking around town looking at some of the sights. I love Taupo for all the different ethnic foods I have eaten, and all the diverse people that are here. I have walked the pedestrian and bike path along the shore, and even thought of doing a long trek, but now that I have stopped it seems I am out of energy. I am still waking at my usual time before 6:00, since I have been in that routine for all these weeks. I am still hungry much of the time, going to sleep and waking up hungry, my body still wanting to store all those reserves. I looked back at my blog and reading it, along with the photos, brings back all those memories like they were just yesterday. What a great experience my New Zealand trek has been!

Brian and Shirley are graciously coming to pick me up Monday and taking me back to their home in Gulf Harbour, near Auckland. I will spend Tuesday packing everything up for my flight back, which leaves at 6:20 am Wednesday. Funny, I’ll get back to Los Angeles at 7:00 am, Wednesday, only 40 minutes later.

Even though this is the end of my New Zealand trek, my mind is already going a hundred miles an hour thinking about planning my next trek. Another Camino, Turkey, or across the United States? I will see, one day at a time.

Best wishes to all,

Ted

Please excuse the typos, spelling, grammar, etc., as I am typing this on my phone, and I am probably still pretty tired.

The Tui Oaks Motel, on the top floor. Friday, Saturday and Sunday