A few of us had planned to go to Rangitoto Island (a nature preserve off the Auckland harbor) for a day of adventuring and trail running. Like an overexcited third grader, I laid all my clothes out the night before and bolted out of bed the second my alarm went off.
ALL THE NEON
Right as I was getting ready to go and placing my PB+J in my running pack (I really am a third grader), I noticed the group had been blitzing out thinking about canceling because it might rain (RAIN RUNNING IS EVEN MORE FUN, ya goofs!). I sent out several frantic blitzes that went unanswered then realized people were most likely not going, and my host mom consoled me a bit, then I decided to go rogue instead.
AND ROGUE I WENT!
Despite my morning delay, I miraculously made it to the only morning ferry with 5 minutes to spare. I arrived to the island at 11 and spent the afternoon scrambling up and down the volcano and various paths on the island. By the time my afternoon ferry came, I had done about two hours of scampering, ate a PB+J on the edge of a crater, met an American who knew a friend of mine from high school, and explored some lava caves. Not a bad way to spend a day off of classes.
volcano views
cave selfie
entering the cave
I honestly think I may have had a better day alone than I might have with a bigger group. I didn't realize how much I needed a big chunk of alone time (besides just watching tv on my laptop). A day alone, exploring, feeling the overwhelming silence of a nature preserve with no real animals and no human activity was so therapeutic. The only weird moment in my day was when a guided tour rover drove by me on a dirt road I was coming down and a Chinese tourist kept pointing at me and taking photos with his hi-tech camera. I felt like some weird creature that they all felt entitled to photograph. But hey, maybe they just thought I looked awesome in my trail gear. (My neon running pack and assorted water bottles + the hippie headband I bought at the market probably look horrific to non-runners but I felt like a boss regardless.)
SCAMPER HEAVEN
happy feet
Rangitoto itself is AWESOME. There's a crazy range of landscapes, from fields of lava rock to dense forest to coastal shoals. I ran and hiked around a bunch of different trails and it definitely felt like I got several different runs out of just that one.
I rinsed my feet off in the ocean before catching the ferry home and realized for the millionth time in the past few months how lucky I am. It was such a contrast to a few days before - it just shows how much the woods and the sea can be such medicine for my soul.
...and an extremely happy me
TRAILSSSSSS
I got back to my homestay a little before dinner and promptly showered, put on my comfiest pajamas, and watched tv while eating chocolate. It was definitely my version of Treat Yo Self 2015 - I got to do everything I wanted to and didn't have to worry about anybody else.
I'm so grateful and happy that I went. Normally I probably would've just sat around my homestay moping all day and being mad that everyone bailed and it would have been terrible. Instead, I scampered around volcanic rock and mossy forest and decreased the homesickness I'd been feeling tenfold from the first moment my feet began to strike springy, technical trail.
In the words of my girl Jenn Shelton, "That's what I love - just being a barbarian and running through the woods."