Journey's and Destinations
Family roadtripping
It’s been a while since our family braved a road trip. We had to spend a while mentally recovering from the last one. As adults we know it’s about the journey being as much an adventure as the destination. Our older kids won’t have many road trips left in the 7-seater ‘Pacific Highlander’ (that’s the name of our Toyota). This week our eldest tried to stay home and babysit the Wi-Fi, but we insisted that it was the whole family braving the six-hour drive from Tapanui to Christchurch. Embrace it whanau. For better or worse, let’s make memories.
It was noticeable that we must be making some progress in life because we only had to stop once before the first scheduled stop. It’s at this moment I would like to hand out my first award:
BEST TOILET
This gem was in Waitati. Google maps it. Just stepping through the door was exciting but there was no opportunity to be bored while you were in there. The walls were plastered with pictures, poetry - even the mayor’s speech from the day this toilet was opened so that we could taste the history. Funny mayor too: “it will be a great relief to many for this opening to happen today”. We felt it.
It was apparent from what was packed in the car that the kids were older this time: clothes, the coffee machine, a few snacks, and some basketballs. There was no potty and only one towel for the random occasion that might require it. It was a slight oversight by me that in our packing of the car, we left no easily accessible change of clothes for the littlest boys. Which brings me to our next award:
THE BOLDEST STOP
Mataio (6) hates to be cold. He would only ever go swimming if he was wearing togs because that makes sense. Even if we put him in togs at the beach, he probably wouldn’t go swimming because he hates to get cold. He’s safe to let out of the car at the beach if there’s no spare set of clothes handy. Unless he’s with Owen.
Owen (9) doesn’t care about the temperature. If there’s water, he’ll find a way to get in it. Asking him not to will be a waste of breath. Owen will then find a way to get Mataio wet also. It will end with tears.
I knew all this, but the road trip was going so well, and the kids are getting older……we went down to the Moeraki Boulders. It was a bold move. Pun intended. But we watched the boys leap from rock to rock and for the first time ever visiting a beach we didn’t require a full change of clothes for the youngest flat mates. No story here. Look at us go.
At the beach, I thoroughly enjoyed watching a tourist take photos of yellow flowered gorse. She was clearly unaware that it’s one of New Zealand’s great weeds. It was a momentary reminder than beauty really is in the eye of the beholder!
BEST PLAYGROUND
We’ve got two teenagers and two pocket rockets. A playground that keeps the whole fam-damily happy and moving is a rare find. The Caroline Bay Timaru Playground delivered. It’s a destination more than a pit stop. The basketballs came out, and we could barely get the kids to sit down and eat lunch. The icing on the playground cake, was having my rather tall 6-year-old beg to go on the train. I had to say yes - it could be the last time he isn’t too cool. My 8-year-old was too cool until my teenagers decided to join in. My husband and I sat there watching our 4 rather large kids do loops for 5 minutes. It was our first childless date on a park bench in a long time.
THE DESTINATION….
This road trip wasn’t actually ‘this week’. I normally write and hit publish but I couldn’t finish this one. My sticking point was this last heading. The physical destination was Christchurch, but it felt like we arrived somewhere else. What we didn’t anticipate was a church experience on the Sunday morning that felt like a homecoming. It gave strength to our tired bones.
In the days prior to this road trip, we resigned our membership from what has been our Presbytarian church home in Gore. I’ve never been a big denomination person. Our family aligns with a group of people called ‘the church’. We’re all in our churches of different flavours, worshipping the One Lord together with others all around the world. Well, I thought I’d never been a big denomination person. The church we went to in Christchurch was a Wesleyan Methodist Church - the same denomination we were a part of in Auckland. I felt the depth of relationship as soon as we stepped into the room. I felt it, my husband felt it - you belong here. My teenagers (who I had dragged out of bed to be there) both THANKED me for taking them to church.
I went for a run after the morning service and my spirit cried with joy “I am doing a new thing!”
We came home and began preparing our house to go on the market!
Wow! Big times ahead with your house on the market and a new destination in mind with a welcoming church family. It sounds exciting and daunting all at once. Wishing you all the very best!!!