100 Days: Walking Te Araroa
GJ Coop
Paperback
(bluelake publications, Sept. 26, 2016)
100 Days answers the fundamental question: Why is a long break away from Civilisation, allowing the re-calibration of Life, important to long term well being? Oh, it is also a day to day account of a true New Zealand backcountry tramping Little Adventure. Tales from GJ Coop's almost epic wandering as far south as is sensibly possible in New Zealand, below 47°S on Stewart Island/Rakiura, then walking, mostly on the often remote and gnarly Te Araroa trail, to a new life 1300 kilometres away at the other end of the South Island, the world's 12th biggest island. Choosing experiences over possessions, freedom over security, he stripped back the layers that had been accumulated by half a lifetime spent overseas to become the person he always wanted to be. 100 days finding a balance between thought and action. Sensibly, huh? If it was so sensible, why was he the only one doing it?