The “no-plan” plan

Thursday, February 15

642 miles in. Wellington, NZ.

4 big days, 3 cans of chickpeas, 2 packs of burrito-size tortillas, & 1 XL jar of PB later…

I’m in Welly, babyyy.

Took a long shower and now I’m hanging in the city eating two (2) pizzas.

So get this. Earlier today, I popped into a bike shop called Get Lost. The folks there are familiar with my route so we start chatting. Pretty quickly, one of the mates asks me: “Why are you doing the TA?”

I tell him I don’t have a clue.

“Your plans flexible? If you’re after a real adventure, check this.”

My ears perk up.

And so he goes on. Tells me there’s a way more scenic and epic route called Sound to Sound. It’s about the same distance: 1,000 miles. But instead of following the west side of the Southern Alps, this route flows along the east. More climbing, gravel, & views.

Say less. I told ‘em I’m in for it & geek out as they help me with the maps.

Here’s the thing. I spent FULL DAYS mapping out my route for the South Island. Poured over guidebooks. Flagged stealth campsites and cafes. And then, with the snap of a finger, I get a tip from locals who know what they’re doing. All my route planning? Useless.

That got me thinking: how much of our lives do we spend planning for things that never happen?

This bike adventure is a winding journey. I might have an idea of what the future holds, but I don’t know for sure. Shit happens. Plans change. That’s like…life. Didn’t John Lennon nail it? “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”

I’m not anti-plan. I came here with one: ride from top to Bluff. Plans give us direction. But what if we were all a bit more flexible? What if we tuned in to our bodies and made decisions based on how things unfold & how they feel instead of sticking to a set plan? Follow the next best track.

I’m not going to plan my route anymore. I hope it changes. I hope I…Get Lost. And since my switch from TA to Sound to Sound? I’m likely going to finish at Milford Sound instead of Bluff. That’s the way it goes. Even the destination changes 😉