A clear night sky, a faint dampness of dew in the air and a chill that suggests the possibility of a frost the next morning. Empty streets slide by familiar and comforting but with the different atmosphere that the late hours of night brings. Time to farewell the city that on the surface is so radically different to the one of childhood and pre earthquakes, but underneath, at it’s core is the same city. The same streets just different contents. A city that’s somehow ‘home’, one I love and one I love to hate.
Somehow leaving pulls us closer, opens our eyes to the things we will miss.
The things we’ve appreciated but not been aware of. The things we will look forward to returning to one day.
In only a few hours I’ll be boarding a metal box to jet off on another adventure. It’s a strange feeling leaving without knowing exactly when I’ll be back. Six months? Eight Months? A year? More?
Over the last few weeks I’ve made the effort to view Christchurch a bit more fully, observe the changes, remember what was where and not just take off onto the Port Hills to climb or disappear up to Castle Hill.
Finally after a few busy weeks the bags are packed, the farewells done and all is in readiness and anticipation to begin the journey. This will be the final post from good ole Aotearoa, the next will hopefully be full of climbing, good mates and fine Spanish sunshine!
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.”
– Edward Abbey
Leave a Reply