Epilogue

 

I woke up Monday, April 22, 2019, in Taupo slightly dreading the day as this was technically the final day of my trek. I had sadly broken down my Wheelie and had everything packed in two duffel bags and the backpack.

 

Brian and Shirley picked me up around 10:00 am and I was happy to see them, and of course very thankfully that they have been there for me through my whole trek. I had one more request for them, and that was to stop at a sacred Maori site a few miles outside of Taupo that a Maori woman had told me about. It was a large rock or bolder revered by the Maoris as lucky. She said, as a child, her family always stopped there when they traveled by. They would leave money, or as an an offering of some type of green vegetation, and in return they would receive good luck and a safe journey. Probably like my beautiful New Zealand green stone I received as a gift at the start of my trek. We found the spot and it was a small landscaped like setting. The rock was five or six feet in diameter with a concave hole on the face. We had a quick look because it was raining, and I place some green vegetation in the hole as my offering.

 

Instead of driving directly back, Brian and Shirley took the longer alternate route back through Rotorua and I got an extensive, and wonderful, guided tour all the way back. I got to see some of the other beach areas on the East Coast such as Mount Maunganui Beach and places I would not have seen had I continued, because I would have taken another route.

 

The next day we went to lunch, and also went sightseeing in the area north of Whangapataoa, Gulf Harbour, where Brian and Shirley live. The beauty and scenery never stopped to amaze me as it changes so dramatically within just a few miles drive. There is so much coastline here that there always seems to be a beautiful ocean view.

 

Shirley made a nice dinner my last night there and I enjoyed their company, but underneath I was feeling a little sullen because I knew I’d be leaving early in the morning and I didn’t want my adventure to end.

 

We were up by 2:00 am and out the door by 2:30 for the quiet and deserted drive to the airport. I had a different feeling saying good bye to Brian and Shirley, and leaving New Zealand, compared to ending my other treks. Maybe part of that feeling was because I had been here so long that I felt connected to the wonderful people here and the country. Being here really didn’t feel like I was in such a different country, but maybe more like being in another state back in the USA where things are a little different than California, including the different accents. People that I met here really made me feel welcome, and Brian and Shirley felt like family.

 

My flight home was through Sydney, Australia, and was long and rather uneventful. Flying over Los Angeles and looking down I felt happy to be home. Mindee picked me up at the airport and after almost three months I was obviously happy to see her. If it wasn’t for her encouragement I probably would not have experienced my New Zealand trek.

 

From the time I got up in New Zealand until I finally went to bed at home it had been over thirty hours without any sleep. I slept well the next two nights and felt totally exhausted during the day, maybe because both the jet lag, and probably my body finally resting. For three days I did nothing but sit on the couch and watch tv, and it felt great.

 

I finally drove a car on the fourth day back, the first time driving in almost three months. Interesting that within about ten minutes of driving out of the Canyon here I almost got into a head on collision with a car illegally passing two cars over double yellow lines. Had I not slammed on the brakes it would have been a bad accident. What a welcome home!

 

Wednesday, May 1, I had my appointment with the orthopedic surgeon for my one year knee replacement follow-up exam. Since the two days outside Taupo where I had some pain and stiffness in my knee it has felt fine and fairly normal. I was a little anxious to see if there were any issues? I had an X-ray and the doctor came in with a smile and said everything looked good. He said that swelling after a replacement is fairly normal and can continue for more than two years after the surgery. Any pain or swelling is usually just the tissue around the knee and not the actual joint itself. If it was the separation of the prothesis from the bone the pain would be very noticeable and not disappear. He also said that it would be fairly normal for someone with a normal knee to have some knee pain after walking over 800 miles. That made him, the nurse, and me, laugh.

 

He couldn’t predict how long my knee would last, or if my trekking would really shorten its life as compared to someone who wasn’t as active. He said just keep doing what you love and if you have an issue come see him. Funny, but I asked him about the plastic joint and if that could wear out. He said that’s an easy fix because they just pop off and he could just pop a new one on. Sounded like changing a tire!

 

So, I am back to real life at home and already thinking of my next trek. I had originally planned this trek to end in April because I had asked my son, Alex, to trek another Camino de Santiago, in Spain, with me in May. Unfortunately, he is working on finishing his degree by the end of summer, so he can not go. So, I will plan another trek of some sort in the near future.

 

My trek in New Zealand was very special, not only because of the interesting and beautiful places that I saw, and as I have said many times before, the wonderful and kind people I have met. I want to thank all of you that sent me messages, stopped to say hello, or offered me rides, food, water, places to sleep, etc., as every one of you gave me a little encouragement that allowed me to continue, especially on those challenging days.

 

Until my next trek, best wishes and blessings to all,

Ted

 

Oh yes, and please excuse the typos, spelling, grammar, etc., because I am actually laying in my bed typing this on my phone late at night, and, I am still pretty tired.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking one last time at the view from the back of the Hotel B&S Thomas