The date is April 8th, two days before the deadline for my second blog, two months after my first steps in New Zealand, and I find myself in a backcountry hut with no service, no electricity, at the top of a remote mountain range in Nelson Lakes National Park.
Accompanying me here are three of my Dunedin flatmates and 25 other lovely trampers who have come from all different paths and treks to settle in this lakeside shelter. Up here at 1,650 meters, the amazing (I’m manifesting it) thought occurred to me: Why not kill two birds with one stone and write out my blog as one of my journal entries?
So, apologies in advance to my journal viewers for a slightly longer-than-usual entry and apologies to my blog viewers (of which I know there are oh so many of you all out there) for a slightly more casual tone than usual…
Angelus Hut, my accommodation for the night!
My new water bottle enjoying the view at Devil’s Punchbowl Falls in Arthur’s Pass National Park.
As I sit here, in the middle of my eight-day mid-semester break camping road trip and after a full day of hiking and rock scrambling through sunshine, rain, and 50-mile-per-hour winds, I feel this is a good moment to reflect on my first two months here.
My spirits have been incredible these first couple of months, even in the moments where things haven’t gone exactly as planned, and I believe that being outside has played a huge part.
Take this current trip, for example. Though, of course, there are the moments where I can’t wait to sleep in my big soft bed back in Dunedin, cuddled up in a warm blanket and all comfy, these thoughts get drowned out by the sense of adventure that comes with the feeling of discomfort and the new experiences, people and conversations that you can come across when you embrace the outdoor world.
Reflecting on my life and these first two months, I can’t say I have found much better in this world than going outside and appreciating what Earth has to offer, being active, enjoying friends and family, and all of the people you meet along the journey. I can’t wait for these next two months and whatever awaits me.