S01E01 Te Araroa | Days 0-4: Taupo to Ahipara

[@GypsyGirl317]

I'm watching your initial TA journey again now, during this lockdown time in August 2021. ❤️👐🏿😊 Having watched so many more of your excellent vlogs in the interim and got to know you more, I am appreciating afresh how wonderfully authentic you are, and how incredibly courageous! I am enjoying this series very much, as I have been tramping a lot around the central North Island right through the winter, and am making plans and training for my own attempt on TA next year in the summer season of 22-23 when I turn 65 and get the pension! 😁 🏞️ ⛰️ 🏕️ 🚶🏻‍♀️ We are so blessed to have our beautiful country to walk/hike/tramp around aren't we. 🌿

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

This is such fantastic news to hear! I am glad to hear you are making your own preparations! Whilst I cringe at you re-watching my videos (I can barely find the energy to watch them myself! My style and storytelling ability has evolved so much over the years) I am glad that you are finding them helpful. They have, after all, served the purpose that I always intended them for - which is to show people the full journey from a complete beginner hiker to a much more experienced amateur. The journey continues, and it will be interesting (from a personal perspective) to look back at these in many decades' time and see how far I have come. Please feel free to get in touch personally if you would like any advice on your upcoming adventure. Also, little spoiler alert, there is a very real chance we may bump into each other in 2022/23... watch this space 😉

[@djsomers100]

Visited NZ in 1971. What a beautiful country. Also did the Milford Track in 1976. Thank you for sharing your journey. You remind me of someone I know long ago!

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

That's really neat, hope it was someone you liked! :)

[@289adrienne]

You have no idea how helpful this was! I’m looking at doing the TA next year but have been having some serious doubts about whether I can do it because I don’t have a huge amount of experience. I’ve seen some of your recent videos and assumed you were a pro to begin with so it’s giving me lots of hope seeing your early days on the trail! Thanks for sharing!

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Ok well put those doubts out of your mind THIS SECOND! Maybe it will help you to know that I was in EXACTLY the same boat as you just a year ago, I had all those doubts and more when I started. The biggest piece of advice I feel I can give you (or anyone who has those same feelings) is... give yourself permission to fail. Permission to be awful at it. Permission to cry and scream and be angry if necessary. Tell yourself you don't have to do the whole thing, you just have to START. And then just see where it takes you. Kia Kaha :D

[@GypsyGirl317]

Nectarine.dots I am also contemplating doing the TA hopefully as a through hike in the next few years, once I get well prepared. I am doing daily walks, and local hikes plus strength building exercises at home. I am planning on doing a few of our multi day hikes in order to prepare myself adequately for the big one! 😁 Kia kaha, you've got this! 😍 Michelle, you are such an inspiration to so many people. 💕 🤗 ☘️

[@NIVO95]

I'm totally in the same position, I have an urge to do TA literally 2 days ago. I'm making the most of Xmas sales and starting on a gear list and planning. I dont tramp at all but definitely gonna start with some weekend day hikes in preparation

[@NIVO95]

Ps im in Auckland if anyone wants.to get some walks in

[@GypsyGirl317]

If you haven't already, go on fb and request to join Te Araroa group. It's awesome. 😊

[@intimatemigrationsandhomec61]

You’re amazing. You are an inspiration.

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Thank you so much! Such a kind comment I don't feel like it most of the time, but I'm glad you've found some value regardless :) Take care x

[@dogsville]

i found your wonderful channel and am hitting the back catalogue chronologically, and in this episode i love that first hesitation (approx min 22) where you had to think first before announcing it was day 4....any length of time longer than a day is starting to become abstract :) excited to see where you get to in the subsequent episodes....don't spoil it for me now ;-)

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Haha a great observation! Hope you've enjoyed catching up on them. I wish I'd done so many things differently now, but alas... we learn and grow!

[@uniquetooyou9215]

Well done you! Your walk is awesome to watch, very inspiring. We have a beautiful country thanks for sharing your adventures 😀

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

We sure do! I've really loved being able to showcase a very different aspect of travelling through New Zealand and learning much more about our country in the process. Thanks so much for your kind words!

[@irishcov9255]

It looks so beautiful. You are so brave to do it. Have a nice trail. I am happy to follow your journey.

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Thanks Ira, happy to have you along!

[@stevenc3809]

Looks like wicked fun (apart from the pain!) Well done, looking forward to watching the rest.

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Thanks Steven! Looking back on it now, I'd do it all over again :) But it's great to be reminded of all the struggles :) Glad you enjoyed the episode, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the series!

[@kiwideann5632]

Soooo impressed with ya. You have no idea how homesick your making me feel lol. You’re doing great so far and everything your feeling mentally and physically is totally normal for the start of such cool adventure. Will be following your journey intently. Kia Kaha Michelle!!

[@nasszebiche5618]

No pressure. Go as far as you can at your own pace. You have six months to achieve this. It’s not a race, it’s a life :-) Following you in preparation for 2020 Take care

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Thanks so much!

[@robinmills5827]

Kia kaha Michelle. You've made an strong start.The emotions and pain you are going through seem pretty common with thru hikers. All you can do is what you are doing - stay positive. Our pain is so much smaller than the mountains or oceans we walk beside. Flat, hard sand makes for difficult walking especially when you are carrying 15 extra kilos! Enjoy the beauty around you and the friends you are meeting.

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Thanks Robin, such kind comments 😊

[@helenasimoes5735]

Love the video! Will watch all of them for sure. It's great that you share the struggles because many thru hike videos focus more on the happy side and let those bad moments out and I think that the bad parts are where you gain more knowledge. Very impressed with you while I prepare my thru hike (hopefully for the PCT) but TA is definitely on my radar.

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Hi Helena, and welcome to the channel! I'm glad you're enjoying the videos and stay tuned for the South Island series in a week or two! Good luck for your PCT prep also!!

[@phill2383]

I've just discovered this, Thanks so much for vlogging this, it looks a great walk. I'm looking forward to watching the rest of the Series. Phill

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

You're welcome Phill, I'm glad you're finding it useful so far. I'm always open to questions if you have any, so please let me know!

[@darrenwilson7205]

looks amazing you are going great, keep up the great work and keep positive You have got this you can do this!! My TA has been tuned tuned to shit . A week befoer i was to star,t my fiancee was diagnosed with cancer, so all my TA plans and hard workwent down the drain. So for the next three months you are my inspiration i know you can do this . We are both watching your travels, you got this!

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

I’m so sorry to hear of your troubles Darren, and my thoughts are with you and your fiancée. Great to have you following along! You’ll get there one day 😊

[@GypsyGirl317]

Darren I am re-watching Michelle's TA series, and I just read your comment again - how are you doing, and how has your fiancé gotten on with the cancer diagnosis? 💗 I am a survivor of double cancers in 2016, so my heart really goes out to you both. 💖

[@binman5233]

A great start and a thoroughly enjoyable vid, thank you. Well done.

[@Monica-jq4gy]

Awesome vid !! gonna watch ur series now , so cool :)

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Thanks Monica, glad you liked it! Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions about any of the sections. Happy viewing!

[@timskye543]

Appreciate your honesty in your videos.

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

Just subscribed after seeing the Wilderness mag. How did you achieve the camera battery charge and uploads while hiking?

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Thanks Dave, so awesome to know you found me in the mag. I also wrote the Whanganui River article in this months' Great Walks issue, so make sure to check it out! I carried with me an Anker 20,000 maH powerbank which gave me 3-4 full charges of my iPhone 6 plus battery. I very rarely needed to use it, as throughout the North Island most nights I was staying in places with mains power. As far as video uploads go, I found it impossible to edit my videos on trail with my older iPhone, so I ended up making two trips home whilst I was hiking to edit three or four videos so they could upload to KZbin whilst I was out there. For the South Island, I'm looking at hiring an editor. Hope that answers your questions!

[@ClMiD]

Just rewatching the North Island series.

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Fantastic! Enjoy!

[@boostedshuttle2231]

When do we get to see you back in the south island, we have missed the vlog.

[@walkingisthebestmedicine]

You are an inspiration 😀

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Let me know if there's somewhere I can keep up with your journey :D

[@walkingisthebestmedicine]

Long White Gypsy I have send you messages on Instagram 😀

[@antoniabaker7770]

Sorry if I missed it but what was your start date?

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

I started the North Island on 4 November 2019... coming up to the first anniversary!

[@mrsealpoop7781]

Love the vid! Getting real teary from the memories, so happy to relive my own journey through your adventure!

[@LongWhiteGypsy]

Sorry for the tears haha! But glad it's bringing back some memories. The final episode from the trail is going live this Friday and I'm also getting a little emotional. But there's plenty more post-trail videos and hikes to keep me occupied until I get back out there, so at least I have that to focus on!

[@b.j.n.g.354]

TO : MICHELLE ; I HAVE BEEN HAPPILY VIEWING YOUR FIRST TWO VIDEOS , WHICH ARE BOTH VERY BEAUTIFUL. I AM A NEW ZEALANDER , WHO IS CURRENTLY OVERSEAS. I AM AWAITING MY OWN RETURN TO AOTEAROA. MANY OF THE PLACES WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN WALKING THERE IN THE NORTH ISLAND , I MYSELF HAVE ALREADY BEEN THERE. THE NORTH ISLAND IS MORE TRAVERSED. HOWEVER , THESE DAYS I PREFER THE SOUTH ISLAND. AND MY HOPE IS TO WALK ALONG SOME TRAILS IN STEWART ISLAND. COULD YOU , MICHELLE , KINDLY PLEASE ANSWER ONE QUESTION FOR ME ... ARE YOU PERHAPS A MEMBER OF THE TRIBE ? IF YOU ARE , THEN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT QUERY. IF YOU ARE NOT , THEN YOU PROBABLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT QUESTION. WELL THEN , KINDLY PLEASE TELL ME WHETHER YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE TRIBE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SOME REALLY GREAT MOVIES. UNTIL 120. BE WELL. KIA ORA. --BJNG.

[@loiskucing4402]

Ada yang dari Indonesia. ..🇲🇨