Retirement is a long, long walk

By JO-MARIE BROWN

As a small boy, Tom Bayliss would gaze down the long road he lived on and wonder where it led to.

"I always wanted to explore things, right from early times," recalls the Whakatane 66-year-old.

That life-long curiosity combined with a passion for walking has just taken him on a 3000km trek round the North Island's coastline, following his retirement from teaching.

"I often used to stand in the classroom and look out on a beautiful sunny day and think, 'Wouldn't it be nice to throw off all your responsibilities and just go walking like the old swaggers did'," Mr Bayliss says.

The adventure, broken into three trips over consecutive summers, took a total of seven months, but very nearly ended on the very first day.

"When I went across the Ohiwa Harbour I did actually get swept out to the mouth, which I wouldn't recommend," he says.

"I was quite shaken but after that I was very circumspect [when crossing rivers]. I would throw pieces of wood in to see how fast it was."

Mr Bayliss kept as close to the coastline as possible throughout his journey, enjoying the thrill of not knowing what was around the next headland, but often having to wade through water or clamber down steep gullies and tracks.

"To be honest, if it wasn't for the goats I would never have made it. The goats had made all these trails which I was able follow."

Despite being offered hundreds of lifts from motorists, Mr Bayliss - who is a great admirer of 19th century explorers such as William Colenso and Thomas Brunner - insisted on walking and wore out three pairs of tramping boots along the way.

Accommodation varied from motor camps to pitching his tent on the beach, and a diet of mainly rice, couscous and oatmeal after a hard day's walking in which he could lose more than 6kg.

"I can honestly recommend walking to everybody because I've never felt so healthy in all my life," he says.

"Once you're over 40 people think you're incapable of physical challenges and I was able to prove that an ordinary person can do some of these things."

The music teacher phoned his wife, Elizabeth, whenever he reached a township but admits he did get lonely.

"Often you're very keen to make human contact but sometimes I used to talk to the animals ... I felt quite at home with them after a while."

Along Wellington's coastline it rained continuously for days and his tent blew away, but the determined Mr Bayliss battled on.

He was rewarded with stunning views from every vantage point. The Te Henga walkway in the Waitakere Ranges and the coastline north of Waihi Beach were two of his favourite spots.

"Our coastline is a national treasure.

"I hope that what I've done will inspire people to get out and really enjoy what is out there."