BROOKLYN, NY-
Hello. It's me. I was wondering if after all these years, you'd like to hear how Katie and Michael are doing.
I'm a little behind on my blog posts, it's true. So, I thought it would be fun to catch you up to speed through the magic of Gifs.
Katie and Michael were happy little hobbitses tramping through the wilderness, or more often along roads and through muddy, which is what the recently-completed Te Araroa trail sometimes looks like.
Hello. It's me. I was wondering if after all these years, you'd like to hear how Katie and Michael are doing.
I'm a little behind on my blog posts, it's true. So, I thought it would be fun to catch you up to speed through the magic of Gifs.
Katie and Michael were happy little hobbitses tramping through the wilderness, or more often along roads and through muddy, which is what the recently-completed Te Araroa trail sometimes looks like.
via GIPHY
Unfortunately Katie began suffering from repeated foot trauma caused by walking too much. (This happened to Michael on the PCT, too. His feet turned purple.) Michael tried to help carry her pack for a while:
via GIPHY
But then Michael fell into a big pool of poop.
via GIPHY
There was no way getting around it: they both needed to rest. So, they went back to a farm to spend some time woofing.
via GIPHY
This wasn't all bad, as it allowed Michael to get up and start drinking one day at 5 AM in order to catch the Rugby World Cup (Australia vs. New Zealand).
via GIPHY
The two of them also visited a bird sanctuary, where they learned about the bar-tailed godwit, which migrates from Alaska to New Zealand without stop- an eight day flight!!!!!!
via GIPHY
Then they learned about racism against Maori people, and now they are going to go canoeing down a river for a little while before returning to the trail.
via GIPHY
That is my version of what the past few weeks have held. The other thing that is pertinent is that my dad has been pretty sick, and we've been with him in the hospital for the past two weeks. But he was discharged last Friday and is getting stronger every day. Go Dad go!
As for Katie and Mike-- here's Katie explaining the whole misadventure in her own words.
24 hours traveling in NZ from Michael Hanley on Vimeo.
... Oy. You can do it, Katie and Michael! Have a great time moving through space without relying on foot transport for a few days. We are rooting for you.
With love,
Megan
