Not all who wander are lost

How do I express the glorious beauty of these few days?  A selection of instant photographs, and a few scribbled lines in my journal cannot possibly capture the rich experience of the tramp.  To walk these paradise paths, my beloved companion by my side, drinking in the rich, untainted glory of the Marlborough Sounds – such is the fabric of treasured memories; of eager anticipation of yet more wonders to behold.  How can I be so blessed?

In the quiet shade of Mistletoe Bay I cast back in my mind over the way we had come.  The terrain and vegetation so varied: hot humid trudging through Conradesque rain forest – the deep, oppressive darkness holding hidden secrets of the cycles of life, death and rebirth; slow, laborious climbs as we will each weary leg to reach up in turn, until we finally break through into the refreshing cool breezes of the mountain tops – the Sounds stretching out to either side, rich turquoises, ceruleans and ultramarines flooding the secluded inlets below us; then gentle strolls along soft, pine-needled tracks, or through the dappled shades of beech woods in companiable silence.

Starting off at Ship Cove, it was easy to see why James Cook favoured the place as a haven for his ships in his journeys of the 1770s: sheltered, beautiful and with plenty of fresh water tumbling down the crystal streams.  We were feeling good and energetic for the steep climb up and over to Resolution bay, then a second climb over the saddle to Endeavour Inlet – getting a bit more weary by the end of the day’s tramp.  The route itself was clear and easy, through native bush, with black and silver tree ferns, mighty rimu trees, and stunning views along the Sound.  It was lovely walking with the gentle rustle of the wind in the trees and the constant chatting of cicadas in the background, occasionally rising to frenzied cacophonies of sound drowning out all else.  What a privilege to be surrounded by so much beauty, and to be able to enjoy and appreciate it, and share it with someone you love.

Day two was the most gentle of the tramp, wandering around Endeavour Inlet at sea level with no steep climbs.  The day was a sharp contrast to the 25km of day three, climbing high to the long ridge separating the Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sounds – on and on, past the Bay of Many Coves, Ruakaka, Tahuahua, and Kumutoto Bays, till our final long descent to Portage Bay.  And so to the fourth and final day and a shorter climb via Torea and Te Mahia Saddles, so to wait at Mistletoe Bay, enjoying the quiet shade as we waited for the water taxi to ferry us back to Picton.

A gentle tramp; a time of sharing, of reminiscing, of dreaming of the future; life lived to the full.