Reflection from Paul

Dear friends, supporters, sponsors, all of you who are concerned about HIV/AIDS issues in Africa,

I am pleased to write that I have safely completed my journey across the South Island. The last few days of the tramp were very straightforward and enjoyable. After walking the Queen Charlotte Track and taking in multiple views of the maze of bays and peninsulas that makes up the Marlborough Sounds, the very last day was spent crossing the Queen Charlotte Wilderness Park. The Park was a dramatic and ideal place to end the journey: a long narrowing peninsula reaching far into the blue expanse of the Cook Strait, with a windswept lighthouse located at its tip. The native forests were some of the most beautiful I had the chance to see on the island, and the views in all directions (some encompassing the coast of the North Island and much of the Marlborough region) were just breathtaking. Weather was phenomenal right until the end: the sun was brightly shining as I walked up the final slopes to the lighthouse. New Zealanders, too, continued to be warm and welcoming: I was treated like family by the people at Anakakata Lodge upon completion of the trip.

In a way, The Aroka Project came to an end at 4:30 PM on March 6th when I finally reached the Cape Jackson lighthouse, 44 days and 1488 km after setting out from the other end of the island, in remote Fjordland. However, it is hoped that its effects will be long-lasting. The money so generously donated will certainly go a long way in Africa. I feel like our awareness-raising goals have been reached too. I have discussed the issue with a variety of people along the way, and in a variety of settings. I have distributed the cards we had made for the event. And hopefully we have inspired others to not only give some thought to an important cause, but to also take time in their hectic lives to take action, to do a little something to help fight the pandemic. That is what The Aroka Project was primarily about.

I am currently in Christchurch but will be flying to the small Pacific nation of Tonga in the morning. I am hoping to get a feel for how life is lived there and for what issues people are dealing with. The country is particularly struggling against the effects of climate change. Admittedly, the snorkeling and beaches should be extremely enjoyable too and a nice change from walking. I am returning to Canada on March 18th and will include more thoughts about the odyssey in our March newsletter.

Before I go, I need to thank all the New Zealand locals and families who have been a tremendous help. Many thanks also to all the sponsors who have made The Aroka Project possible. Thank you to all friends and family back home for the outpouring of support and encouraging words. Finally, a huge thank you to Meghan who has done so much and put in hours and hours of her time to make the journey not only possible but also safe, enjoyable, and as efficient as possible as far as awareness and fundraising go.

The Aroka Project has been both an amazing opportunity and a learning experience in many respects. My hope is that it has inspired others to take on new challenges and creative means of offering a helping hand.

Thank you to all of you who have been part of the journey,

Paul

Photos from top to bottom:

1- Paul and the enchanting Queen Charlotte Sound

2- Along Endeavour Inlet

3- Kenepuru Sound, near the Northern tip of the South Island

A Tribute

While I posted this elsewhere, I feel it is appropriate to also post it here. This is also the first time my 'voice' has appeared on the website, but I felt that as the other half of the Aroka team, I wanted to submit my thoughts as well - if only once. So, if you'd like, please read on and reflect with me.

I must admit, it is with a fair amount of emotion and sentimentality that I write this entry. I have waited six weeks to be able to write this, and now that the moment has finally come it feels a bit surreal to be putting my thoughts down. Back on January 22, after months of planning, Paul embarked on the 1488km trek of the South Island of New Zealand. What a journey it has been. As I look back, before he left we discussed the possibility of him not finishing the trek. At that point, I told him that the best, and smartest, thing he could do was to decide not to finish should it be too dangerous or should anything happen to him that would compromise his safety.

No need though. In the last day or two, Paul reached Cape Jackson, the point at which the trek officially ended. Not only that, but he reached this point almost two weeks early. It is a testament to his determination, physical fitness, and incredible sense of purpose as, ultimately, the cause of raising awareness of HIV was a central part of the journey.

I was not there to walk with him, so I can only imagine the kind of determination it took to hit the trail again every morning despite a difficult and strenuous hike the day before. To put it into perspective, though, Paul trekked the distance from Ottawa to Charlottetown, or from Regina to Calgary and back again. And we're not just talking walking here; the terrain was incredibly diverse and ranged from running down scree, to scrambling up rocky passes, walking along the highway, to fording creeks and rivers. Meanwhile, I tried to keep up on the stationary bike in ‘The Basement’ (aka. the gym at Queen’s) with little hope of ever catching up:).

Among many other things I have learned in the past few weeks, through his stamina and perseverance, Paul has taught me an incredible lesson of what one can do when they really put their mind to it. I am in awe of his talents and am so thankful that someone like him has both been given talents such as these and has used them to serve others. In fact, the amount raised with this event is equivalent to the cost of a month’s worth of antiretroviral treatment for more than twenty people. And I am encouraged to know that in the hands of The Stephen Lewis Foundation, these funds will go a long way to help people suffering from HIV in Africa.

So, here is my tribute to an inspirational man: though we are small, the sky’s the limit, our feet can take us anywhere and our imaginations only help us dream of the possibilities.

Meghan

Seventh Update from Paul

Hello from Havelock, mussel capital of New Zealand and last resupplying point for The Aroka Project,

I have reached the Marlborough Sounds after a few days spent crossing the forested mountains of Mt. Richmond Park. I was hoping that the summit of Mount Richmond itself would provide me with a glimpse of the last coastal 109 km I have to cover, but the mist up there was so thick I could barely locate the next marker showing the way along the open tops. Still it was encouraging to know that from the highest point, the remainder of the journey is largely downhill to Cape Jackson. I had pleasant encounters with friendly locals along hot dusty roads at both ends of the range, and I also very much enjoyed the emerald pools of the Pelorus River.

Here I am now in seaside Havelock. From here I will walk along the road to reach the beginning of the famous Queen Charlotte Track. From that point on I will head straight for the lighthouse at Cape Jackson, which marks the end of the walk. The first tough days in Fjordland seem so far behind now, and it should be a beautiful walk along coves and bays towards the tip of the island.

I will write again when the end destination has been reached. Thank you for following the walk and stay tuned for more updates.

Paul

Sixth Update from Paul

Hello supporters,

This latest update is being sent to you from the lakeside village of St. Arnaud, gateway to the Nelson Lakes National Park I just crossed. As you can tell from the map, I have made it pretty far up the island. In fact, from here less than a quarter of the tramp remains.

Over the last week or so I have spent most of my time on rough forest tracks. At lower elevations I wandered through grassy cattle flats (including a walk across one of the country's largest farms) and occasionally the track took me above the bush-line to reveal the vast extent of the island's ranges and some of the most beautiful lakes I have seen so far.

It finally rained yesterday for about 10 minutes, which prompts me to say something about the weather: Mother Nature has been excessively nice to me over the last few weeks. In fact, believe it or not, I had not encountered rain since leaving the Young valley, which is an incredible 700 km away from here! I have not experienced substantial rain since I was at Mavora Lakes, which I visited another 200-300 km prior to that. And the Sun was again there for me when I needed it at Waiau Pass 2 days ago. The forecast also looks great as I head into the seldom-visited Mount Richmond Forest Park.

I am unable to send pictures from my current location but some should be posted soon. I have been well looked after by the people at the Alpine Village Store here and feel ready for the next leg of the journey. Next time I write I will be entering the final stretch of this 1500 km hike.

Off to escape the sandflies...

Thanks for your interest and contributions to an important cause,

Paul