A Mostly Beautiful Day Out

We’d been notified that our power was going to be turned off from 9 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon on Monday for line maintenance. So rather than dealing with that from home we decided to run a few errands and end up at the beach. By errand number two I proved that I don’t look where I’m going by getting into the wrong silver car, parked a few spaces away from where our car was, with John in it. I thought he’d parked directly in front of the pharmacy so I opened the passenger door of the first silver car I saw from the corner of my eyes and to my horror heard a man greeting me with quite a surprised look on his face too. I just laughed (like a hyena) and hoped that John didn’t see me but I knew that he must have since he’d be waiting for me to come out so we could drive away. That did cause quite a bit of hilarity all day.

Errand number three went well and I managed to spend lots of money at the vet for meds for Shaq that I get to give him every day. Then we took off to see the barber John likes in a nearby town, but alas it was Monday and they were closed. The last time we went there it was lunchtime and they were closed for an hour and a half but he didn’t go back later that day, since it’s too far out of the way. So on to the next adventure. John had some idea that we could walk on the pier in New Brighton. I knew the weather wasn’t going to cooperate and also I associated that beach with our bearded collie, Chloe, who eventually was hit by a car. Although we had mostly good memories of her there frequently as she’d frolic in the waves and run around with all the other naughty dogs, she was attacked there too by a pit bull. So this place would not be my pick. Although it used to be one of the favorite escapes for Christchurch residents when it was developed decades ago because it had a large open mall filled with shops right near the sea. But those days have passed and the area has been struggling to remain viable. So going there for me wasn’t exactly my choice, but I managed to bundle up in the piercing wind and walk towards the pier. Actually we both walked onto the pier and between the high tide with tremendous waves breaking at the end of it and the headwind that was so loud we couldn’t hear each other, John made the executive decision to turn back about a hundred feet into the very long walk. My relief was instantaneous.

Our next stop was at Sumner, a prosperous beach town that has seen many changes since the earthquakes 11 and 12 years ago but never lost its charm. Even the walk to the restaurant was enchanting as it was sunny and more sheltered than the other spot. This little enclave is built up around hills and there’s just a totally different feeling there. Eventually we reached the restaurant on the beach, called On the Beach, and we dared to eat outside with the cheeky seagulls threatening as lunch progressed. I was transfixed with the scenery in front of me and relaxed for the first time all day. The food was good and life took on a different glow as we stared at the sandy beach and glistening sea in front of us.

Eventually of course, we had to leave and on the walk to the car I took another twenty photos of the magnificent succulent plants that were blooming in profusion with their sharp yellows and almost alien style protuberances coming out of them, some like gigantic asparagus spears. All of this is around a place called, Cave Rock, which has a cavern in the center that lets the sea in and steps to go to the top of the massive rock. I’ve heard that some people actually get married up there. But we eventually had to climb back to reality and go home to our lives that are now inland. We used to live a few minutes away at the top of the mountain near Sumner just off the summit road, where the parasail adventurers jump off the cliffs. From there we had the best view of the sea that I wrote about extensively in my book. That view saved me. So having a bit more of the sea on Monday seemed to ease the way for the rest of the week in the same way. There is something about being at the ocean that quiets down my soul and penetrates my heart soothing away all the issues that seem to be on a rampage now in the world.

I guess John made the right decision to leave the house. Good man.