New Zealand is not a one trip country. Grayhair said that. You know, it's probably true. Tramping isn't easy, I'll be honest. I've carried loads of maybe twenty kilograms during the army days, but those were mostly route marches over pretty flat ground, easy trail. Of course we also had the navigation exercises with gun, pretty tough, outfield training and all that, but you know, it's a little bit different being out here in the cold and wet and crossing streams and going up and down. Well, the rolling stone gathers no moss. The fun thing is that it's exciting country. There's all kinds of terrain and texture. You slog through one and before you get too bored of one type, you get another to plow through. So there's that, a bit of variety. It's not bad. The dry food sucks though. I don't like it. I'll have to think of bringing something I can properly cook. Over a little butane propane stove haha. Well we'll see I guess.
New Zealand is not a one trip country. Singaporeans are rare, the warden says. We've run into seven, count 'em, seven Israelis on the trail. Six Germans. Not sure where that leaves us. But they were all friendly as the dickens, man. Grayhair from Yorkshire, been in Alaska thirty years. Probably seen a little for every gray hair he has. Good man, makes a mean Alaskan hot chocolate. An American, a sharp tool kinda guy. Him and the German girl met in a supermarket getting trail food, go figure. They all love their card games, Messaken, Shithead and Dutch. The Israelis teach you funny things. They say you get, what's the word, addicted to life on the trail. That's the funny one. He says he's been a year on the road, circled Israel, did two thousand in his boots. No kidding. The taller one, he's a good dude. Guffaws while playing his Dutch. It's funny how they're travelled and youthful at the same time. Kinda the opposite of us. Well, it is what it is. The hut murmurs with a constant stream of foreign tongues, in a gentle, breezy sort of way. We talk politics, science, work, health insurance, accidents, vegetables, nutrition, tough tramps, family. The vibe is chill and conversational, informative and sharp. Honest. Everybody has a story, and a good one. Their words and faces, their chortles and laughs linger for a few days, when the trail grows quiet. The people you meet on the trail, you kinda think you were meant to meet, and maybe only on the trail.
You know, they say New Zealand is not a one trip country. Socrates was right, life doesn't teach you things, it reminds you of things you already knew. I'm starting to believe them. The food, I've gotta work on, though. Well, I will. Not a one trip kinda town.
Walk along the river, sweet lullaby
They just keep on flowin', they don't worry 'bout where it's goin', no, no
Don't fly, mister blue bird, I'm just walkin' down the road
Early morning sunshine, tell me all I need to know
You're my blue sky, you're my sunny day
Lord, you know it makes me high
When you turn your love my way
Turn your love my way, yeah
