FIELD NOTE #3 — A Shift in Rhythm
From Ninety Mile Beach to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds — and my winter miles here in the Netherlands.
Postcards from the Trail
The past fortnight on Te Araroa took me from the endless sands of Ninety Mile Beach to the quiet beauty of Rainbow Falls and finally the significant carving at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. All the while, my real-world miles unfolded here in the Netherlands — beside canals, lakes, and winter fields.
Here are the next four postcard pairs from my journey:
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Te Araroa: New Zealand Landscape 1
Ninety Mile Beach
My virtual journey continued down this legendary stretch: 55 miles of wind, surf, and soft sand. Even virtually, you get a sense of the endurance required. There’s something meditative about following a coastline that seems to never end. A place where the mind can wander — as mine often does — into Aroha’s world.
My Dutch Miles: Reflection 1
Maxima Canal, NL
Much like the beach miles in NZ, my rides along the Maxima Canal are rhythmic and steady. This bicycle has carried me more than 7,000 miles these past two years — my silent companion through all seasons and all drafts.
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Te Araroa : New Zealand Landscape 2
Ahipara Dunes
From flat sand to dramatic slopes, Ahipara brought a shift in energy. The long, steep climb rewards you with sweeping views of the bay, followed by the temptation of a wild ride down the dunes. Part challenge, part adventure — the perfect metaphor for writing the middle of a trilogy.
My Dutch Miles: Reflection 2
Van Zwietenpark, ’s-Hertogenbosch
This lake has become my personal Hyde Park. A short, gentle loop that clears the mind. I walk here when the writing is heavy or when I need a reminder that not all progress must be fast.
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Te Araroa : New Zealand Landscape 3
Rainbow Falls (Waianiwaniwa)
A softer moment on the trail. The Kerikeri River Track leads to a waterfall that feels almost suspended in stillness. This part of the postcard felt like a breath — the kind a writer takes when a story deepens and begins to speak back.
My Dutch Miles: Reflection 3
The River Meuse in Winter
A favourite spot for listening — geese, winter birds, the rustle of reeds, and the quiet conversations between wind and water. It’s often in places like this that a scene suddenly clicks into place.
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Te Araroa : New Zealand Landscape 4
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Here, history steps forward. The carving shown on the postcard stands atop the Māori meeting house, Te Whare Rūnanga, and is thought to represent Kupe, the Polynesian explorer who discovered Aotearoa. Even virtually, this stop carries weight. A reminder of ancestral journeys, origins, and belonging — themes that weave through Aroha’s storyline.
My Dutch Miles: Reflection 4
A Cold Morning Hike
Proof that I really am moving my body while the kilometres advance on the virtual trail. Some mornings are frigid and slow, but I’m determined to “reach the South Island” one Dutch mile at a time.
Where The Trail Meets the Trilogy
As I walk and cycle these miles, the second book of The Ace of Nerve trilogy is growing. Aroha’s Māori heritage continues to anchor her character — not as a lesson, but as a quiet force shaping the way she sees the world. Every miles deepens her voice and her journey. Sometimes Nancy Wake is the echo and sometimes Aroha. Here’s a snippet.
“Regret wastes powder and time.” Nancy replied curtly, “listen to me, Princess. You think denying the pull of your heart will make you strong. I tell you; it will only make you lonely. There’s a difference.”
The room seemed to hold its breath in the silence that followed. Outside, a breeze rippled the surface of the Thames, while a lone gull wrote a perfect arc against the leaden sky.
“I can live with lonely.” Aroha’s voice came steady. “I can’t live with betraying what I am.”
Nancy regarded her for a long moment, respect slowly rising in the blue eyes. “Then be very sure, girl, which part of you is truly ‘what you are’ and which part is fear dressed as duty.”
A Note on Seasons
Winter is settling in here. The days are short, the nights long. My photos are turning as blue as my fingers, the air is crisp and sharp, and the pace a little slower, at times. But there’s beauty in this season — a softness that mirrors the quieter parts of the trail. And of life.
Until Next Time
Noho haumaru me te mahana
Blijf veilig en warm
Stay safe and warm
See you in the next Field Note.
— Hannah
