“Shall we hike the Queen Charlotte track during our summer break this year?” I kind of pleaded with Shaun.
It had been a hard year in business with the recession. I’d watched him work so hard, and stress so much and I knew he needed a damn good break.
Now, Shaun and I have very different ideas of what ‘taking a break’ looks like. He prefers the ‘Stay At Home’ model, where he still gets up at 5.30am and does his usual routine of cigarette, cup of tea, porridge, poo, and then has the freedom to do whatever spontaneously calls him that day.
I, on the other hand, class a good break as something fun; often with friends, making memories, usually away from the farm – our dear farm with relentless farm jobs, where there is always something to do, and from which Davies Fencing is run.
In our 28-year relationship, I have usually won when it comes to choosing what to do for our summer break. Except for last year when Shaun won, and we stayed home. It was incredibly boring (for me) because he ended up spending most of it spraying gorse – alone, which to be honest, he does enjoy.
This year, I chose the right moment to ask, put my best nightie on, and initiated a moment of passion. Not my finest moment of integrity I’ll admit. I thought I’d grown out of manipulation styles but there you go. He replied that it would probably be boring to walk in the bush and not see any deer or have a rifle but that yes, he’d come with me and our good friends.
I began training immediately.
The Queen Charlotte track consists of 17 km on day one, 10 km on day two and 27 km of mostly uphill on day three. Shaun’s training was zero.
“I’m fit as, I walk fence lines all day, I hunt, I’ll be fine.”
I’ll admit, I was worried about his lack of training, but this wasn’t your usual DOC-like tramp with huts, bunkbeds, packets of dehydrated food, long drops and strangers snoring next to you. This was the créme de la créme of hiking. Staying in lodges, white linen, restaurants, and backpacks water-taxied for you to your next destination. This was a Shaun-Break of course; I wanted it to be as relaxing and enjoyable as possible for his first hike.
We hopped on the ferry, met our friends and began our hike.
It didn’t disappoint. The tracks were phenomenal; stunning vista views around every corner, bluebird days, luxurious accommodation, beautiful food, soul filling laughs and banter with our mates. It was working! Shaun seemed at ease, happy, relaxed – in a ‘my body is sore, but I’m enjoying it, hiking’ kind of way. The break away was doing him good.
Towards the end of the third day, about 20kms in, we had reached the top of a mammoth hill, my friend and I pant-chatting, I looked up and saw Shaun and his mate give us the ‘shhh’ sign. Initially, I thought Shaun had finally had enough of people talking and needed his quiet alone time, but then he then pointed to the bush. There, about 5 metres away, was a young red deer, casually chewing leaves. I was astounded. In 15 years of hiking, I had never ever seen a deer on any track. But there it was. And there was Shaun, with the hugest smile. His tank was full.
On the ferry on the way home, he put his arm around me and whispered, “Thank you so much for organising this,” and kissed me on the cheek.
It’s easy to fall into thinking that a ‘good break’ has to be a certain way, but I think a break just needs to fill the gap in whatever you’re missing at the time. If you’re missing alone time, do that. If you’re missing rest, do that. If you’re missing fun, do that. If you’re missing exercise, do that. If you’re missing connection, go hang with people.
And if you’re not sure, go ask your wife.
She’ll know.
Written by Angelena Davies
Angelena Davies is a wife and mum who happens to have a Masters degree in Social Sciences. Alongside running Davies Fencing she is also a coach, facilitator and author helping children and adults to access “flow” so their lives are easier and more fun.
Published in WIRED issue 76/March 2025 by Fencing Contractors Association NZ
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