An interesting day of travelling… home,
I left the campsite in Whanganui early this morning. It really started to fill up over the past 48 hours with all the (BIG Dog) campers, bringing everything including the kitchen sink. I felt small and insignificant in-between the massive tents, expensive caravans, SUV’s, boats and jet skis. I also got the sense there were lots of “locals” around me, having heard a lot of Afrikaans. Anyway… I am going home and started my first journey today with a taxi followed by the intercity bus back to Palmerston North. Everything from the last 4-5 weeks, in my backpack, ready to head home.
Today was Christmas eve, and while I was hoping all my transport transfers would work out correctly, I prepared myself that I might not sleep in my own bed tonight.
With transfer number one out of the way, I was sitting on the intercity bus to Palmerston North and got a little emotional, seeing the countryside go by through the window. Just a week or two (or three) ago I was walking here, next to the road, taking in the scenery on my way to Whanganui. It felt a little like I was travelling through time, backwards, quickly, experiencing all the emotions of the trail in reverse order. Time to reflect I guess… The universe remained on my side and I made it to Palmerston North on time to board the local bus to the airport with time to spare when checking in my bag for my flight to Christchurch. I sat down for breakfast and afterwards spent a minute or two walking through the only (little) shop at the airport in search of a coke. To my surprise, while checking out the books in the kiddies section, I stumbled across this beauty of a book that can almost explain to “normal” people what is it like living with my zoo of animals.
Yes, I know that one of my zoo animals is not a dinosaur, but I most certain have a Unicorn and a Shark… especially one that would be laying upside-down on a flamingo floaty with a cocktail on his tummy. It is not just the cover, but how the three of them act in the book too. I am posting the link to YouTube here: “A Unicorn, a Dinosaur and a Shark were riding a bicycle”. If interested, go have a look and a laugh… (it will only take 4 minute of your time). I deal with this nonsense every single day in my head. And the kitten in the book is equivalent to the Hamster (by the way).
My flight left Palmy on time and landed at a busy Christchurch airport, stuffed with holiday “traffic”, every person on their own mission to make it to their destination without consideration for anyone else. Wow… second busiest airport in New Zealand. I am glad I am not flying internationally right now. Many thank you’s to Clint that took time out of his busy day to pick my up at the “drop and go”, it was great to see a friendly face. I missed my friends while on the trail. Getting home was strange (and I was expecting these funky feelings this time) but still it caught me a little by surprise. Spoke to my neighbour quickly and collected my mail, started “Dino”, my ute in the garage and left for my appointment at the barbershop… to trim my hair but also more importantly get rid of my excessively long beard. I guess it is back to “life” and back to “reality”… having to also make a trip the supermarket quickly. Life feels so fast, being able to drive and the shops are a little overwhelming with me not having to think about how everything is going to fit in my backpack (lol).
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43.5323 – 172.5567
24 December 2024
FP-348
3 responses to “Heading home, back to Christchurch.”
A lot lot of Campers – Sjoe!
YouTube here: “A Unicorn, a Dinosaur and a Shark were riding a bicycle” – LOL – baie Kool~
beauty of a book – indeed – a lot of “You” in there – like it was written just for You ‘-)
Sounds like the Airports were crazy everywhere on the 24th – two of my Friends were at Cape Town International – they said it was madness!
Happy that the Universe remained on your side and that you got home!
back to “life” and back to “reality” and a little overwhelming … there will be funky feelings, etc ..
take care of yourself “-)
Yes, that book is pretty special. There are more additions (volumes) if you want to go check it out.
Not a great time to be going through airports, but it turned out okay thankfully.
I will most definitely check out the other volumes “-)