Well, this is a bittersweet entry to write.
I'm starting the trek back home tomorrow. Heading to Auckland on the Northern Explorer train to Auckland and the airport.
I'll get to meet up with a good friend in Auckland, and get to spend my last day or so with him and the good people he has as friends by the beach. So it's almost full circle, and an apt way to end this time in NZ.
Wellington has decided that I need to get used to the weather back home, and although she can't give me the cold that the UK has at the moment, she's giving me as much rain as she can.
It has given me the incentive to get on with packing though, and one lesson I've truly learnt is that unless you need kit for a specific purpose, and are guaranteed to do be doing that thing... Don't pack it.
Just don't.
I've realised that had I not packed some kit that I've bought over I could have made the trip with one backpack. Still, like I said, lesson learnt.
It's going to be odd getting back home, and really sad to be saying goodbye to my mate down here in Wellington. After not seeing each other for nigh on fifteen years, it was superb to be able to pick up as if we'd seen each other only the week before.
I guess that's what friendship's about at the end of the day.
We've had time to catch up, time to hit the road, and time to just kick back.
We've had some superb times and laughs, and some very difficult times, but I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else.
I've met, and been introduced to some wonderful folks while i've been here, and have felt welcomed into the community where i've been based.
I couldn't give enough thanks to everyone for their warmth and hospitality.
There's going to be a lot i'm going to miss.
There's still a fair chunk of the country I have yet to see, but as I alluded to previously, situations got in the way. This time.
I'll be back at some point to finish this trip, that's for sure.
So it's time to move on, get back to the real world, get back into 'work' mode, and save some funds to head off again.
As a good man said to me not long after I arrived here, 'love your adventurous heart', and I know I'll need to hit the road again.
