Sue and David Till
David and Sue met at 16 and 17 living in the same street in Albany, Western Australia. They bought a roadhouse in Bremer Bay and then later moved to Perth.
David has always been active and loved the outdoors since Scouts. Passing the Bibbulmun Track sign for many years David decided to hike the 1000-kilometre trail from Perth to Albany. Finishing this hike, he asked himself “What next?” He has since completed several long walks around the world however Te Araroa is one of his favourites.
Sue is the complete opposite and although she likes walking, she doesn’t like tenting and prefers a shower, soft bed and coffee and would prefer to cruise. David always has his backpack with his tent and gear ready to go and continues to walk the list of walks he wants to accomplish. Sue is happy to wait at home and edit his diaries although if he hikes overseas, she will follow him in a train, bus, cruise or just do her own thing.
Married with four adult children, they are now back in Bremer Bay retired and busier than ever. Writing and self-publishing their hiking journals is a retirement hobby and a great way to socialise and promote hiking. “I got up and walked” came about as David initially started each day of his daily hiking writings with… “I got up and ….”!!! It was suggested by a friend they should use this as the title. It will continue as they self-publish each book.
Hiking, Travel
I got up and walked the Te Araroa
A factual account of my end-to-end (through) hike of the Te Araroa trail which runs 3,063 kilometres from the top to the bottom of New Zealand.
I got up and walked the Camino de Santiago with my Other Half
David is an experienced hiker having walked the Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia, 1,000 kilometres in 43 days and Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand, 3,000 kilometres in 119 days and more recently the Pacific Crest Trail, 4,200 kilometres in four months and eight days.
Life is simple with his backpack full of food, equipment, and tent, whereas Sue likes coffees, soft beds and showers. This was a compromise to walk at least once together on their six-month backpacking trip around Europe. Walking 800 kilometres in seven weeks, approximately 20 kilometres a day was a challenge for both.
David usually walks 40 kilometres a day with a personal best of 60 kilometres in a day, so he had to slow down! For Sue this was just a challenge! However, with lots of cafes and a hot shower and soft bed at the end of each day to look forward to, it was a great way to spend time in each other's company.
Website
Find out even more at: https://www.igotupandwalked.com/