The second honeymoon period has ended. This last section was mentally tough, and there were parts when we wished it was over. Like when we got to a hut expecting it to be somewhat run down, only to find a dark, mouse-infested tin shack (restored to “reasonable condition” in 2010, as per the official trail notes). Or when we had mice visit our tent on two separate nights. Or the weather getting chillier, and our sleeping bags not being quite warm enough. Or when I really needed to use the toilet, but spent over ten minutes in the early hours of the morning trying to dig an adequate cat hole as darkness turned to light.
There were of course good parts as well.
But we both had moments on this last section where we thought, “I want to go home.”
We thought we would get into town and have some good rest days to recover our sagging morale. But due to lack of vacancies, all we’ve gotten were overpriced, mediocre accommodation with way too many beds. Seriously, tonight we are staying in a motel room with two bedrooms containing a total of six beds, and it’s just the two of us.
So, faced with the prospect of more cold nights, more derelict huts, more mice and few places where we feel we can recover, we’ve decided that this past section was our last of TA.
We are still adjusting to the idea that there are no more sections and no more all-encompassing activity that has kept us busy for months. I am sad but also somewhat relieved. I think the full effect of no longer being on trail will take time to sink in.
Tomorrow we are going to try and hitch to Mt Cook for a short day hike, before starting to make our way to Christchurch and then ultimately back to Canada. To get back to Canada, we will have to overcome the almost insurmountable task of getting hold of a real human being at Air New Zealand to move our flights up, as we are currently scheduled to fly out mid-April.
Thank you to everyone who has followed our journey and given us encouragement when we needed it. And thank you to everyone who showed us immense kindness and strengthened our faith that overall, the world is filled with amazing people.
