Well, it took ages getting all the friends and family out of the bags, where
they had hidden, but we found them all, yes , even in the smallest pockets.
So, where to fit it all, maps, books, music tapes, walkman, camera,
films...... yes just a few !!!( dozens ).Boots, trainers, sleeping bags
,air matress, tent .... stove... pots n pans.....clothes ( for 6 months..
and for every climate...first aid kit( we can put the duty free whiskey in
there too ..... 4 medicinal of course...) Well, after a few rejiggings it
all fits in and is within our allowance `15 kilo each..but can we lift the
bloody things.. so where are all those friends now who said "Ill carry your
bags for you"... yes, it was ever thus.. no sign of them when you need
them... Not true really.. all our Irish music friends gave us the most
wonderful send off at a pub in Deal last night.. a fantastic session...
thank you all...an amazing turn out ( was it just to make sure that we were
really leaving the country... or was it that I owed so much money to
everyone and they needed to collect in case we find a corner of the world we
like and ...dont come back?????. We are excited now... it is but a matter
of hours... and we are off.. Grey whale watching.. elephant seals... and the
monarch butterflies of pacific grove all beckon next week....and then its
on to New Zealand... watch this space ... we will send reports as and when
internet cafes allow...Back to check the final packing.. two really heavy
bags... I do hope that Sue will be able to carry them both ok..... we carry
the warmth of all your friendships with us as we go.. and go boldly... to
seek the world....the adventure begins.............................. Ade n
Sue..
2005-01-24: rhapsody in white
They say on a clear day you can see forever, but being Irish I can tell you
its further than that.. we finally left Heathrow after they fitted the new
engine or something like that.. and we flew north out over Scotland.. on the
clearest day youve ever seen.. the icy white of Iceland stretched below then
we flew further north across the great glacier of Greenland.. it was
stunningly beautiful..all shinning white and cryslal clear, as we went north
the sun set but in the twilight below the great carpet of white shagpile was
glowing and sparkling.. we skirted the north of Baffin island and the frozen
lakes and islands of northern CanADA CAME INTO VIEW.. never seen anything so
beautiful.. well not up till then this week.... from down below somewhere in
a remote spot a column of white smoke stretched up in the clear sky... and
you could almost hear the pipes and a slow air played by Liam oFlynn. WE
came down the east coast crossing the Rockies ..still the white carpet
spread below.. and the sun rose again for the second time that day.. allthe
way over the cascades to san Francisco.. awesome.. We spent 2 days looking
around SF .. it was enough.. we saw the sights and ... also the down side..
the addicts and homeless.. so we were glad to get out on to the road.. and
what a road.... highway one...white waves .. giant rollers.. all along the
sandy beaches.. and te cliffs shrouded in white fog.. awesome sight...We saw
the Elephant seals on the beach.. the monarch butterflies wintering over in
Pacific Grove.. and we went on a whale watch to see the Grey Whales as thet
migrate south to give birth in the warmer waters off Mexico.. we are both
filled with the wonder of this beautiful planet we live on.. while the rest
of the world north of us is gripped in the big freeze ... it is 60 to 75
here and wew are in shirt sleves... now we prepare to fly on to New Zealand
on Wed. .. we will take with us the warmth and beauty of this amazing coast
.. somewhere stored within for reliving on a cold winters night.. till we
talk again.. all our love... Ade an Sue.. ...... ps for those who worried
about Sue carrying all the luggage... yeah.. you were right.. her back gave
out on day 2 .. but dont worry .. we bought her an extra bag.. so she can
have one on her back.. and one in each hand.. it spreads the weight..I ll
keep an eye on the situation.. ( sue says ..if you believe that .. youll
believe anything..)
2005-02-01: where are they now
The moon peeped over the edge of her starry sequined black velvet hammock,
as the large white bird carried us away out over the Pacific ocean
...leaving behind the wonderful Californian coast..and the Los Angeles rush
hour...having survived it.. reckon I can drive anywhere on earth.......for
over 12 hours we sailed above the white carpet that covers the greatest
ocean on the planet...until at dawn we landed to a beautiful summers morning
in the Land below the World ..... or the land of the long white cloud ... as
Capt.Cook called it. The thing that came as a wonderful surprise..was the
long bright summer evenings.. we were soon set.. we got a great deal on a
hire car.. for 10 pounds a day.. and we set out to meet up with our friend
Martin from Deal, who had just flown in from Melbourne and was going to join
us for the weekend at the Auckland Folk Festival.. and we had a great
time..we both got to perform and even were asked to close out a couple of
sessions..... Martin with his shanties and meself with some poems and
stories.. the boys from East Kent gave a good account of themselves. One
night returning from the festival.. late .. 1am .. we found ourselves in
heavy traffic.. and were sucked into a parade of customised cars driven by
teenagers complete with loud Drum and base..bumper to bumper up the main
street... nothing for it but to join them... we hadnt got baseball caps to
turn round.. but Martin did have his bush hat..and we wound down the windows
and turned up our stereo.. and treated them to some Happy Trails ... and
Morvern Shores.. you could tell by the looks we got they were very
impressed... we may have started a new trend. The last couple of days we
have toured headed up Northland... taking in a Gannet colony.. the Kauri
museum.. and a day walking in the Kauri forests......these huge and ancient
trees ..are so impressive.. that an simple Irishman finds himself lost for
words ( that must be a first I hear you say ) but I did take 5000
photographs or there abouts.. we will soon need a sherpa to carry all the
film. Then to top a great day we found this place from where we send this
..... It is really Gardeners Cottage but in New Zealand.. wild wonderful
garden.. with the birds singing ...and cabin bedrooms set by the pond..Sue
is wandering in the orchard somewhere.. will be hard to leave...but when we
do it will be for the Bay of Islands...and the open road.. Eddie Walker on
the CD player.. playing "a mind to ramble " till we speak again..... not all
who wander are lost.........but I better go and look for Sue .. just in
case.
2005-02-11: another world it is
Well dear friends, its been another amazing week, since we spoke last...we
have been in a different world..we started underground in a great cave with
glow worms all over the ceiling..it was like the milky way on a winters
night when you looked up...only the constant drip ..drip..of water gave the
game away. We then proceeded with our volcanic trip...visiting the geysers
and hot springs area of the central plateau... the top place being the
hidden valley of Orekei.. where one has to get a boat across a wonderful
lake to get access... huge areas of multi coloured algae in abstract
patterns... like an artists pallette gone wild.. with the ever present
rising steam.. and gurgling geysers as backdrop.... inspired by walking on
the moon.. we headed for White Island... an active volcano.. 50 kms off the
NZ coast...to walk inside the crater..( to fulfil a long held ambition ).
the journey out was very rough.. never paid so much to be so sick....but the
experience was out of this world.. and as we walked through this alien
landscape ( camera going 15 to the dozen)...a miasma of steam and bright
yellow sulphur on the air....we felt connected to the great processes that
have formed this world of ours. Needing a break from volcanic dust and the
vapours of hell... we headed to Whirinaki forest.. a superb example of
pristine original podacarp forest..we both were bowled over... the huge
Podacarps ( some 1000years old or more) with millions of tree ferns
underneath... the song of the tui...and the incessant noise of insects..
again took us back to a time when the Earth was covered with such wonders...
Sue had said in California that she was changing her religion to Jellyfish (
when we saw the red lion tailed jellyfish.. they were something else... why
does anything have to be that beautiful?.. ) then when we saw the giant
Kauris in Northland she decided to change her religion to Kauri... and yes
youve guessed it... in the podacarp forest she invoked the feminine
perogative.... and changed her mind.. yes its got to be Podacarp...( for now
!) We then decided to return to the world of the Volcano... and headed for
Tongariro.. to do the Tongariro crossing.. an 8 hour walk ( considered one
of NZ s great walks) which climbs up and between and along the rims of three
great volcaoes... the climb up is fairly tough..we were a little worried..
but we gave a good account of ourselves and could keep up with the younger
and more athletic climbers... the views are superb as you climb... ( takes
your mind off the sore knees ..) but when we hit the cloud layer the temp.
dropped dramaticly.. as did our visabillity... and we held hands as we
skirted one of the narrow pathways on the rim of red crater... winds of 30
to40 miles an hour trying to push us over.. as we peered into the white
mist...... but it was ..as ever ...all worth it ...as we dropped down to
spectacular views over the next ridge.. it was again one hell of a day...we
nurse sore feet as I write but it has given us the confidence to maybe
tackle the climb to the summit of Mount Tarrinaki next...( the spirtual
mountain of the Mauri )...its another 8 hour climb but up to the snow
capped peak..and we keep thinking we will never be fitter than we are now...
so lets try...... For the first time this week neither of us knew what day
of the week it was ...or what the date was... its taken a month.. but we
really feel we are travelling.... .....all that is in front of us ....is the
road...all that is above us ...is the sky...all that we left behind us.. is
within us.. yes ..we carry you all with us in spirit and think of you all...
on we go.. not all who wander are lost... planxty on the tape deck...the
sun bursts from behind a cloud. the world is filled with light.....this is
the life.... Ade and Sue. Well dear friends, its been another amazing week,
since we spoke last...we have been in a different world..we started
underground in a great cave with glow worms all over the ceiling..it was
like the milky way on a winters night when you looked up...only the constant
drip ..drip..of water gave the game away. We then proceeded with our
volcanic trip...visiting the geysers and hot springs area of the central
plateau... the top place being the hidden valley of Orekei.. where one has
to get a boat across a wonderful lake to get access... huge areas of multi
coloured algae in abstract patterns... like an artists pallette gone wild..
with the ever present rising steam.. and gurgling geysers as backdrop....
inspired by walking on the moon.. we headed for White Island... an active
volcano.. 50 kms off the NZ coast...to walk inside the crater..( to fulfil a
long held ambition ). the journey out was very rough.. never paid so much to
be so sick....but the experience was out of this world.. and as we walked
through this alien landscape ( camera going 15 to the dozen)...a miasma of
steam and bright yellow sulphur on the air....we felt connected to the great
processes that have formed this world of ours. Needing a break from volcanic
dust and the vapours of hell... we headed to Whirinaki forest.. a superb
example of pristine original podacarp forest..we both were bowled over...
the huge Podacarps ( some 1000years old or more) with millions of tree ferns
underneath... the song of the tui...and the incessant noise of insects..
again took us back to a time when the Earth was covered with such wonders...
Sue had said in California that she was changing her religion to Jellyfish (
when we saw the red lion tailed jellyfish.. they were something else... why
does anything have to be that beautiful?.. ) then when we saw the giant
Kauris in Northland she decided to change her religion to Kauri... and yes
youve guessed it... in the podacarp forest she invoked the feminine
perogative.... and changed her mind.. yes its got to be Podacarp...( for now
!) We then decided to return to the world of the Volcano... and headed for
Tongariro.. to do the Tongariro crossing.. an 8 hour walk ( considered one
of NZ s great walks) which climbs up and between and along the rims of three
great volcaoes... the climb up is fairly tough..we were a little worried..
but we gave a good account of ourselves and could keep up with the younger
and more athletic climbers... the views are superb as you climb... ( takes
your mind off the sore knees ..) but when we hit the cloud layer the temp.
dropped dramaticly.. as did our visabillity... and we held hands as we
skirted one of the narrow pathways on the rim of red crater... winds of 30
to40 miles an hour trying to push us over.. as we peered into the white
mist...... but it was ..as ever ...all worth it ...as we dropped down to
spectacular views over the next ridge.. it was again one hell of a day...we
nurse sore feet as I write but it has given us the confidence to maybe
tackle the climb to the summit of Mount Tarrinaki next...( the spirtual
mountain of the Mauri )...its another 8 hour climb but up to the snow
capped peak..and we keep thinking we will never be fitter than we are now...
so lets try...... For the first time this week neither of us knew what day
of the week it was ...or what the date was... its taken a month.. but we
really feel we are travelling.... .....all that is in front of us ....is the
road...all that is above us ...is the sky...all that we left behind us.. is
within us.. yes ..we carry you all with us in spirit and think of you all...
on we go.. not all who wander are lost... planxty on the tape deck...the
sun bursts from behind a cloud. the world is filled with light.....this is
the life.... Ade and Sue.
2005-02-18: The Goblin Forest
You know, sometimes you go somewhere for one reason and find you were
meant to be there for a different one... ah.. so it was when we arrived to
climb Mt Taranaki ( the spirtual mountain for the Mauri ) and found it with
its warm white fluffy Aran sweater on ...protecting it from the cold...
wet.. east wind ..that wrapped around its peaks...long white skirts flowed
down its slopes ..beneath which the edges of green forests were just
visible..there we thought ..at least a walk... we entered through a steep
staircase that wound its way down into a ravine of ferns and mosses that
made Muckross in Kerry look like small potatoes..soon we were lost in a
place that defied all conection to the world as we know it. Tall grasses
reached forward as if to catch our words.. or was it to ask..... what have
you brought us.. brought us... " only a poem" only some words.. I replied.
The words in a foreign tongue drifted through the clearing... " resist not
the power of magic, but yield to its wonder and spell, ..for underneath all
of our noses theres a world where the littlefolk dwell......" as if
taking notice and perhaps in acceptance ...of this small token..shafts of
sunlight lit the forest floor of the goblin forest..we wandered through
pathways of green carpeted moss..past cavernous openings beneath old tree
roots.. each containing small mininture fern gardens..beautifully tended
.then on up staircases made with lateral rootlets all filled in with green
moss....overhead branches were drapped in excessive verdant frippery which
gently waved in the breeze..like the tattered sails of an old ship that has
been marooned on a foreign shore for manys the year...the main trunks were
all wrapped in the emerald coatings... which at times broke out in large
bulbous protuberenses that were rhythmicly spaced throughtout the
branches....the calling of bell birds.. and the ever present dances of the
fantails accompanied us as we went...tip toeing..in awe.. and then when the
forest had yielded up its last photo ..the mist descended and we found
ourselves on the path outside the forest.. the last vestiges of that green
wonderland receeded into the mist that had drawn its soft curtains around
it.. and as if a portal had closed we made our way in silence back to our
car... as we drove away.. we put.. Sean Ryan on the tapedeck.. an Irish slow
air ..on the whistle seemed the only possible ..response.... we had not
climbed but we had been somewhere higher.. high.. high..the sort of place
that mountains only look up to..........we came ..we saw.......
2005-02-27: On the Edge
We hope you are enjoying the electronic postcards..or the Irish
Photography as Sue calls it... if for some the filtration is a little too
purple..then there is always the Spam filter I suppose. Well you wont be
surprised to hear we have crossed over to the other side...no ..not Madame
Petulenka and the spirit world... but South Island. We crossed over on the
edge of a great storm.... giant complete rainbow over Wellington harbour as
we left...and we arrived in Picton.. to an amazing sunset...the whole sky on
fire..a good omen we hoped. Our first port of call ...was a mad dash to
Kaikoura...to go on a whale trip..they are yes.. On THe EdGe...of a great
deep ocean trench there ..so whales can be seen all year... We saw 3 great
Sperm whales.. but the highlight 4 us was... a pod of 200 plus ..dusky
dolphins ...all performing and leaping out of the water..superb. We
returnrd north to travel the island in an anti..clockwise direction. We
walked part of the Quenn Charlotte track... on the edge of woodland and
beaches...small coves..with the laughing crystal waters pulsing to the music
of the shore...the slow steady flow of a billion broken sea shells rushing
to meet a watery embrace..we paused in the cool breeze of a South Island
morning..to stare into a canvas of pure blue..the horizon lost in a faint
haze...and only some white streaked sponge marks..in an otherwise azure
sky... it was like looking at a huge Rothko painting..... in fact our whole
week has been on the edge.... of great beaches.. as we also walked part of
the Abel Tasman walk...along some of the best beaches I ve ever seen...had
to buy some new walking boots... eh... dont that show the pace....first pair
wore out in 6 weeks... on the plus side... the flab falls off too...so
fighting fit...we made our way to Farewell spit...Capt Cook named it
farewell as it was the last thing he saw as he left...it is 38 kms of sand
swirling out into the Tasman sea...where the sand from the streams in the
southern alps is finally laid down... it is the place that many Artic birds
migrate to... and the wildlife was somethind else... yes it really was on
the edge ....of the world as we know it...huge sand dunes...90 feet
high...so we ran down the front face.... laughing and tumbling like small
children... God ...its good to be young............. other sites this week
...have been the old gold fields in the Kaurangi Nat Park... really on the
edge... those were tough men... some lived in caves... they even held
dances....in giant caves........... we found no gold...but loads of
quiet....We are now around the other side of that same park in the Oparara
basin..... which really is on the edge of the known world....so
remote.....but again...huge caves.. some 200 mtrs long..good photos we
hope...time will tell... Being on the edge... strange things happen..like
our hotel owner...also owns the local radio station...so last night we did
the Irish broadcast,,.. and again tonight...irish tales to the west coast of
New Zealand...its been another wonderful week...a small poem to
finish.......In silence we sat by the water.....rippling silver lapped low
on the shore...and a host of mercurial dancers..displayed to the wading
birds stroll..................for one instant in the eternal weaving...at
the edge of a lacy white line...through eons and eons eroding...great
mountains to powder so fine..........Each, but a spark in the fire of
creation...one atom in a world filled with sand........just a speck in the
far greater picture....where the waves and the light meet the land.
2005-03-04: More from New Zealand
Hi Everyone, Ade is having a week off so the e mail style and its content
will be rather different. First of all a big thank you for all your e mails
- its great to hear from you and to know whats going on in England.
Now some different news from NZ - besides the landscape and the delights of
the natural world we've been struck by how individualistic many New
Zealanders are and how unafraid they are to express it through buildings and
vehicles. Let me tell you about Paddy Gillhooley and his amazing red and
yellow safari truck. Paddy runs trips along Farewell Spit, a 35km long spit
of dunes and sand that stretches out into the sea off the north western tip
of the South island and is the second generation of his family to have done
so. He runs several trucks but the best one and the one that we went on, is
an ancient home-converted bedford lorry, painted red and yellow with seats
from a coach or train welded onto its floor and a smart covering of carpet
on the walls. It had a rusty but stout set of steps that pull down to allow
passengers out, but the best thing of all was his air conditioning system -
this is a section of wire mesh between the cab and the back of the truck.
When you wanted the air conditioning off you had to slide an old piece of
metal across the mesh and fix it with gaffa tape! Wonderful stuff!
We should also share our experience of Rongo with you. Rongo means peace and
is the name of a hostel we stayed in, also in the north of South Island, in
a tiny, end of the world sort of place called Karamea. Rongo is owned by
Paul, a tall Australian with dreadlocks and bare feet(he does put on his
wellies when it is raining) who gave up being a journalist in japan to lead
a different sort of life in Nz. The hostel is painted bright rainbow colours
and the shed out the back is the home of Karamea radio station and is next
to the delightful organic herb and vegetable garden, which was designed and
planted by a volunteer. Another volunteer built a most beautiful cactus
garden as he had been inspired by Pauls vision of the place - ultimately he
wants to create an artists retreat and there is already plenty of evidence
of artists work on the hostel walls.
We had a great time at Rongo. Normally its young people that have been our
companions in most hostels but at Rongo it was a large party of octogenerian
walkers that dominated the kitchen, tried to nick your butter and made loads
of noise! On the second day that we were there it rained solidly all day and
no-one could walk for very long, so in the afternoon Ade was invited to
entertain everyone with a storytelling session - having already 'starred' on
Karamea radio the previous day with 'the web of life'. It was much
appreciated by young and old alike and a jamieson at the local tavern over
the road was the fee.
In the evening(it was still raining) Ade ,on hostel guitar got together with
one of the walkers who played button accordion and we had quite a sing song
ending up with a new years eve type Auld Lang Syne. One of the old ladies
said she couldnt remember when she had enjoyed herself so much. Ade is so
good at bringing people together and although the young people didnt sing
(too young to know the tunes) they all stayed to listen and were full of
smiles and handshakes at the end. It was great - reminded us of eveings in
East Kent.
I'm writing this whille Ade is flying over Mt Cook and the Franz Joseph
glacier in a helicopter - I opted not to go as, either I would have closed
my eyes all the time or deliberately avoided looking down!! So not much
point really. Anyway the shots from up there should be amazing and will
hopefully enhance a future slide show.
Meanwhile hope the snowdrops and crocuses are pushing through the snow back
in England and reminding you all that spring cant be far away.
All love and best wishes Sue and Ade(when he comes down to earth)
2005-03-06: Misty eyed
As the last stars were fading....we crept quietly out of our hostel trying
not to disturb the poor young things ( bless em.. ) that had partied with
gusto into the early hours....obviously oblivious to the fact that there was
a great wonder to be seen just up the road... at first light..the
reflections of Mt Cook and Mt Tasman would grace the perfectly still waters
of Lake Matheson.........In that hour of the long shadows...we made our way
through the forest...to the edge of that glacial bowl to glimpse ..that echo
of the ancient soul of the long receded glacier in the mirrored
surface........ bell birds, tui and kea calling in the chill dawn
air...added to the the magical atmosphere ...as with quickened heart beats
and much anticipation we reached the waters edge....just in time.......for
there...in the acendancy of the new day....the perfectly symmetrical
composition of mountains and reflection filled the complete still
surface.....all worth the effort of an early start. For us it was the
final piece in the jigsaw...for...over the previous few days...we had walked
up to the terminal edges of both Franz Joseph and Fox
glaciers....photographed them and the valleys from every conceivable
angle...including ..what was for me one of the most incredible things Ive
ever done in my life...photographed them from above....when the previous day
at first light..Id taken a helicopter flight over the same glaciers...then
hovering by the summits of Mt Cook and Mt Tasman...before landing high up on
the glacier at the neve line...where it is more than 300 mtrs
deep....awesome as a word dosnt do it justice...yes...it was yet another
one of those moments when a Blarney stone acquainted Irishman was totally
lost for words....but hopefully the photos will say it all. We were
grateful that the promised deluge from the approaching depression had not
yet arrived....It was not till we started to head south to the Haast pass
that the heavens finnally opened
After weeks of searing heat
The water fell ..all.in a sheet
And after a break of...half an hour
We had a most refreshing shower
Drizzle...and then a mist...so thin
Till at last....the rain set in.
( The early settlers had a verse in this vein ) They also use... If you can
see the mountains...it means its going to rain...and if you cant see the
mountains it means ...its already raining... a saying that I believe started
life in the West of Ireland.
But we were not dismayed or downhearted...no...for the mountains took
on..that superb quality of steeply rising grey green edges ..... that
disappear into the white haze....and the hillsides roared with the sound of
cascading waterfalls....the poor camera was red hot..with button
pushing...if not a little soggy... for it proved a veritable nightmare
trying to keep it dry....we dug out the waterproof gear we had so
laboriously carried around for the last couple of months...and with
raindrops running down our smiling faces...we walked the dripping
forests...celebrating the life giving properties of the downpour that makes
this part of the world such a special place...if other people have told you
that this is the most beautiful place on earth...they probally ...like
us...had summer jobs with the New Zealand tourist board. We now ...head to
Milford and Doubtful Sounds..some of the wettest places on the planet...so
no doubt...plastic bags.. and rain...will feature much over the next couple
of weeks.....home from home for a lad from the Emerald Isle ..I hear you
say...well ..no doubt it will all come out in the wash........Till we talk
again...all our love... Ade and Sue
2005-03-15: Happy St Patrick's Day
Tis a strange thing.... but it seems that down this end of the world...the
role played by the Irish Leprechaun..in the formation of the natural world
...has been lost in the mists of time...so its been our job this week...of
all weeks ...to try and set the record straight. Once upon a time..ah...a
long time ago it was..as well......there was a particular wee
man.................................
He was one foot two...took a half size shoe...and he jumped as high as a
flea..(what a thing )
he had bags of gold...was a thousand years old....and he went by the name
of....Mac Spring
Now the size of the man..he could sit in yer hand...he could sleep in the
bowl of me hat..
For as wee folk go...he was tall..dont ye know...long n thin....not short
and......fat.
He'd a large book of spells...he knew others as well...he could magic you
off to the moon...
make you swim like a fish...or grant you a wish..make christmas or birthdays
come soon...
Now for all of his life..just himself...and the wife....they lived near
their home in West..Cork
with no yen to travel...lest their magic unravel...till one day..they met up
with a ....stork..
Yes..this elegant bird..was well travelled I heard..he'd once been to
somewhere down...under..
well to be quite ...specific...twas below the ...Pacific...to a place filled
with..fire...flies.and..thunder
So Mac Spring...twitched his nose..yes..thats how the spell goes..and he
landed outside.Wagawaga
But the heat n the flies..hit him straight in the eyes..and blindly he
started to......stagger.
Not seeing where he's going...he fell without knowing...right into the path
of a....roo
who thought..poor blind little ..Joey..but help I will show..he......and
into the pouch..he must..go
Mac Spring..got a fright..twas as black as the night...he yelled all curses
n spells ..of his knowing
but try as he might..the old pouch held him tight..there was nowhere else he
was ....going
So..he started to BOUNCE..gave each leap..every ounce..Mama Roo thought twas
something she'd
eaten
but with reflex reaction she followed the action...and soon became known for
her .....leaping
( I can tell you ...it soon caught on.....)
For if each step's 30 foot....for all of your route...then yer distance..is
30 times shorter
Even Qantas (the buggers) put a Roo on the tail of each plane..to make long
haul flights even
shorter
So...its the Mac Spring in the Roo..that allows it to do...all the
bouncing..and leaping..all over
Its all true...dont ye know...now..would I lie...NO !..but ask me
again...when Im ...sober.......
And that wont be till a few days after St Paddys Day...( we've got the
headache pills in....)
Look have a good one where ever you are ........up there in the world
above...or down here in the lands below...we will speak again
soon............Ade n Sue
2005-03-25: The leaving of New Zealand
Well, I suppose the day had to come....but as we are just hours away
from leaving this wonderful place...there is a fair deal of mixed emotion
about.........but before all that...let me tell you what weve been up to
these last few weeks. From Wanaka...we did the 50k drive on gravel into the
middle of Mt Aspiring Nat Pk. to walk the Rob Roy Glacier walk...truly one
of the greatest one day walks anywhere on earth...climbing tru beech
forest....rushing streams and waterfalls for company...the steep climb comes
out above the tree line...to wonderful alpine meadows....with the
glacier...literally hanging above ones head...well on the peak ..next
door...but higher up...so it appears suspended above you...with a multitude
of sparkling waterfalls rushing down the slopes...this is
breathtaking...theres been so much of that...that theres hardly any breath
left.!
We then proceeded to Fiordland....Milford Sound and Doubtful
Sound...and what more can one say....Truly deserve their status as World
Heritage Areas...equal to the Grand Canyon..or any of the other great
places..on this world of ours.....we found that using the word...awesome
.....so many times a day...it lost its meaning....so we now talk
about...Awe--Gasms....Milford in the pouring rain....shafts of light
playing on the water tru small breaks in the clouds..rainbows...the towering
mountains...in their misty grey green winter coats....topped by freshly
fallen snow...every form of water that it can take...all in a single
shot....(took a day to dry the camera lenses out. Then theres the road south
to Te Anau....stunning scenery with Keas ( the large mountain parrott) for
company .......one perched on the roof of the car.. and with trhe window
wound down...Sue watched as he cocked his ear..listening to Cold Blow and
the Rainy Night..(by Planxty)...dont expect he'd ever heard anything like it
before...but Planxty have a new fan down under. We did an overnight visit to
Doubtful Sound......on a small boat..just 6 of us.. (much better than the
tour type boat we thought)...for 27 hours we sailed the coves and inlets of
this AMAZING place....with bottlenose dolphins for companions..we saw
sunsets beyond compare..played out on dark silver water..that was more like
mercury..with burnished edges to the lapping waves...and a sunrise to die
for..well as a photographer...Orange cloud just hanging above the water...we
were completely enveloped in mist.. ( poor lenses again ! ) ...yes more
Awe--gasms......Look we will just have to show you the shots when we
return....and there will be an Art production...to be called Passages..with
the poems written as we travel.
In 1896 the sister of my Great
grandmother came to New Zealand to live...and we made contact with my
cousins...and spent a wonderful night staying at Bill and Joy's as they
invited more of my cousins over.....( My dear Mum ..bless her...would have
loved to have heard all about them...and seen the family
resemblances......and since then we have met another cousin Brenda..and Mike
her husband...really has added to our trip. But for our last days here we
returned to the mountains...to Mt Cook (Aoraki ) and walked the Hooker
valley..another superb walk. We climbed the hills above Lake Tekapo....and
finally yesterday walked in the Podacarp forrests north of Geraldine...we
have so loved the forests here...there was a heaviness in the heart...if not
a little water in the eye....but we will return........and so its on to the
big country over the water...red deserts..blue skies.. and heat...( we have
been warned ) we start in Melbourne..staying with Sues first cousin who she
has not seen since they were 18 ( back in east Kent)..so we are really
looking forward to that.. and then on to Tasmania...dont know if Internet
outlets will be so readily available there...especially when we cross
deserts for 3 weeks...but we will stay in touch when we can.........Farewell
to the land of the long white cloud..Kia Ora...and G'day to Australia....We
are glad to hear that spring is sprung in the far north.....and expect the
daffybells are noddling in the windy gusters...love Ade n Sue
2005-04-08: Under Tasmanian skies
Yes tis us in VanDiemans land, where many of my countrymen ended up..well
one way or another... It was very interesting to visit Port Aurthur and
get some idea what the convicts lot was like...but thats a story for
another time. We spent Easter with Cherile ( Sue's first cousin) and
Mark. (and family).in their beautiful home...surrounded by bush...with all
the native wildlife in evidence.. and with their wonderful hospitality (
just what poor travellers were in need of after a few months on the road )
we had a great weekend.. ( Thank you guys ..we wont leave it 30 years till
next time ). So we headed on to Tassie...we hired a camper van for this
and the next leg...and a good move it was too...to be out in the
landscape..parked up at dawn and dusk...with the best skies ever seen (
well probally since the dark skies of west Cork..seen with the sharp
vision of youth ) ...we had worried that New Zealand would be hard to
follow...but Tassie had much to offer...and stunning in its own way...as
per before...we followed the trail of national parks and world heritage
sites..( Tasmania has 40 % of its land reserved in parks) and superb they
are too. We visited Mt Field..where the tallest flowering trees
are..nearly 100 metres high..( swamp gums..or Eucalythus Regnans.) ..noble
princes whose heads seem to touch the skies above..as they stand up
straight....in their stocking feet( peeling bark). and the subtle colours
of their strong straight limbs dazzling all who stop and stare...( think
herself is in danger of a another religion change )..we walked next day on
Timbs track...in the Franklin river area...and found more wonderful rain
forests to drool over....walks in St Clair and Cradle Mountains exited us
further...and the day walk around Dove Lake proved to be a gem..( a
plantswomans heaven ..if you get my drift ) But the highlight would have
to be Freycinet Nat Park...with red rock to rival Utah...Silver beaches to
rival The Able TAsman...and bird life to rival....well anywhere. Camera
working overtime again...yes we restocked with film in Hobart ( once known
as Sullivans Cove by the way )..I was down to my last roll..and getting a
bit twitchy....but all is well for a time. Our final destination was The
Tasman Nat Pk...with its stunning Cliffs... Blowholes...Arches...and long
empty beaches...heaven...we just sat and wrote or stared through lenes.
or just soaked it in...we parked our van by the sparkling waters and
watched the sun go down ...and come up again in the morning..Have tried
working on a few comic pieces.(the continuing tale of me Aunty Pat )..but
in this beautiful place...photos and words to go with them seems to
dominate..and all ones creativity is pulled in that direction. We have a
camper van again for the next week as we drive The Great Ocean Road (
Melbourne to Adelaide ) it is meant to be one of the greatest drives on
earth..so..camera is ready to go....even if we would linger here another
hour or two...we have today reached the half way point of our
journey...its good to know that there is as much still to come. After the
Great Ocean Road...we will be doing a 3 week trip across the
continent...South to North..by 4 wheel drive..little roads...just red
deserts..blue skies..and if Martin is right..FLIES..and more FLIES.. and
probally no internet access..so yes... you will get a break from our
ramblings...and so till we speak again..here are some ramblings to keep
you going..............................
We listened amid rushing air............
Hearing the call of the wild.............
Where the wind made free...with the leafy tree
And the yielding bush...in the face of the storm
fell in twisted form...on a bended knee
............in reverence.
And we looked to eternal skies...
with bright eyes wild...
watching silver shafts...like javlins pierce
the dark recesses of the mountain pass
and by their light and form...were moved to tears
.............in reverence.
For we felt with an open heart....
the call of the wild.......
with a longing deep for the forest green
where the mosses hung like tribal banners
and fern strewn floors...with dewdrops gleamed
.............in reverence.
And we soared with the soul.....
on the spiral climb to the wild....
alpine meadows...where the small flowers peeped
at proud snowclad peaks...and craggy spires
There the watchful hawk with sharp eyes sweept
......the hills...in reverence.
And we laughed in the face...
of the running wild....
sparkling singing streams...that deftly flowed
through gorge and falls..in sheeted drapes
to the turquoise lakes below
...that shone....in reverence.
And we mused ..on moon deprived nights....
out there in the wild......
on the billion stars...glinting like precious gems
emblazoned on that milky highway in the sky
Ah...the wonder of the Universe....
..and we were filled....with...REVERENCE.
2005-04-26: beyond all expectation
Greetings from a town called Alice.....yes 1000 photographs later we are
half way across on our continental crossing........when we last spoke,we
were about to start the Great Ocean Rd....all the way from Melbourne to
Adelaide....and what a road...great coastal scenery..formations such as the
12 apostels...the bay of martyrs..etc..with awesome waves rolling in off
that great southern ocean.. we continued along the coast taking in the
Coorong Nat Park..all 147 kms of it ...fantastic for wildlife....one of the
great wetlands of the world...from our camper van parked by the waters edge
each night...we watched large flocks of pelicans adorn the shimmering water
with their graceful slow landings. And then on to Adelaide ( which by the
way is a beautiful city...if cities are your thing,wonderful gallery and
museum..one of the best botanic gardens we have visited....and the most
amazing food market anywhere.) Here we picked up our 4 x4 tour...starting
with 3 days on Kangaroo Island...another haven for wildlife..and superb rock
formations...and our first experience of sleeping out under the stars in
Swags ( canvas bag with mattress..which you slip your sleeping bag
inside...and all toasty warm...spend your nights starring at the milky way)
I must admit we did have some reservations about this trip...roughing it
across a continent...especially as we guessed we would be 40 years older
than anyone else ( yes some were as young as 16 ) But we need not have
worried...it has turned out to be one of the highlights our trip....yes
beyond all expectations... our tour guide is a 28 year old local....with a
passion for the natural world....who gets us out of our swags at 5 in the
morning...to walk us in starlight to the edge of a gorge in the desert...to
see the sun rise in the most amazing places....this has not been your
conventional tour...we have driven on the old supply roads or
tracks....across dried up salt lakes...sometimes camping by the frozen white
salt patterns in moonlight...other times by the oldest river banks on
earth..( the Finke ) where rivers are still following the same course after
100 million years....we have sat by our campfires...to the sound of the
didge....and a few irish tales and poems thrown in ( yes nothing like a
captive audience )...walked on the fossil shorelines of Gondwana...perfectly
preserved in the rock....we have walked in huge impact craters...way out in
the desert...and of course visited and walked all the way ariund Uluru and
Kata Tjuta...sunrise and sunset.....in truth it has been the most wonderful
experience. Guess what...Yes Herself has invoked the feminine perogative
yet again and changed her religion...this time its REd Rocks with Yellow
Spinifex and Turquise Gums.....the plant life out in the desert is just
unbelievable....nothing like the barren wilderness one expected...there are
incredible adaptations everywhere you look. So we have a 2 day break here
in Alice...to wash...and wash....and wash...yes red dust gets under the
skin...but so does this beautiful land...and then its on again north to
Darwin...via more desert wonders and then to Kakadu ( one of the worlds
great wetlands...and sites of native art...rock art etc....we will speak
again from Queensland in a couple of weeks....we will visit Sues cousin in
Brisbane for a few days...they may not know us....having gone feral
......our hair has that Henna look...our skin a shade of rosy red...our
luggage ...the look of 1000 years in an Egyptian tomb....and hard pushed to
tell us apart from the local inhabitants. But there is a bright look to our
eyes...like those that have just fallen in love...this is an amazing
continent....on with our rambles...and here is some more rambling to be
going on with......
IN a world as old
as time itself
red ochre soils
whose youth was spent
dusted the tall defiant gums
that clung to the rocks with roots finespun
and born of vermillion copper fire
the shadows stretched...as that orb rose higher
amid rounded forms of spinifex lawn
we stood transfixed
in a scarlel dawn.
And there we bathe
in the ruby glow
of an outback daybreak
pulsing slow
the frozen ripples of Gondwanan seas
pressed to our feet...how time does tease
For older slower rythyms still
this ancient landscape seem to fill
in rocky gorge safe from desert harm
tall cycads and jurasic palm
survive from the reptilian age
and bring to life...past history's page
we trembled to that slow slow beat
brief lives in passage where the eons meet
and immersed in the life's rich blood
of that RED RED CORE
were likewise...born again..once more.
2005-05-04: coast to coast
Yes...tis us again...sipping a long cold drink by the water...in humid
tropical Darwin... havin made it all the across this amazing lump of land
known as Oz.....we made the ocean this morning....some 6500 kms after
leaving Adelaide...via a truly wonderful platter of delights....in
landscape....birdlife...wildlife..plantlife.. nightlife ( well around the
campfire with our fellow travellers ) ...and cultural activities....we now
are well versed in the music of " Midnight Oil " and we have sent others off
on their travels with a newfound appreciation of "Cajunologie"....." Happy
Trails " and "Flook".....and swapped manys the tale around the glowing
embers ....under the star studded southern night skies. Since we last spoke
to your server....we have experienced the joys of some of the smallest
settlements on Earth.. ....well one solitary pub...hunderds of k*s from
anywhere...and other isolated outposts of the developed world...( developed
in the sense that there was some tin surrounding the hole in the
ground...known as a long drop) .......we washed / swam in pools under
silver flowing falls in the odd unexpected oasis that sometimes appeared out
of nowhere as if by magic. The highlight of the past few days....has got
to be our time in Kakadu.. ( a world heritage site on two counts...and there
are precious few of those on the globe...one for its global importance in
wildlife habitat...the birdlife and plants in the Billabongs were
stunning....and two...the simple matter of containing the incredible rock
art of the oldest civilization on Earth...50,000 years of human drawings on
the walls of caves and on the underhangs of ancient mounds of rock that are
to be found in Kakadu and throughout Arnhem land......this is one of the
oldest landscapes on the planet ...the rocks in the Arnhem escarpment are 2
or even 2 and a half..........yes.... Billion... years old believe it or
no...thats half way back to the beginnings of this world of ours....and it
does fell like a very old place indeed....it exudes something...( some of
course would say....radiation...as these old rocks contain much Uranium
...Lead....and other toxic elements ( the Aboriginal stories of the
Dreamtime recognised this and denotes some of the land as sickness
places...where one should not tarry ) that aside...it is a very special
place...when one looks at the tales of the Dreaming ( creation) and those
red ochre drawings on the rocks...in tandem...the whole place takes on the
form of a great theatre...that has been showing the same drama for
millenia.....a truly profound and memorable experience. So its with red dust
on our clothes and red dust in our souls that we travel on......To Brisbane
tonight to stay with Peter and moya ( thats Sue"s first cousin ) for the
weekend...yes we have done a series of washings to try and look clean...but
that red dust just hangs in there....it will probally be with us for all
time I expect. And then its on to the East coast..and the Great Barrier
Reef...Rainforests...and stunning beaches...yes I know.... its dirty
work....but somebodys got to do it ! Our thoughts are with you...up there
in the far north...or wherever else you be on this blue spinning ball we all
call home.
2005-05-24: leaving kicking and screaming
tis us again.....in a state of sunshine, clear crystal waters......and the
big big Blue.....yes northern Queensland has been all of the things the
travel posters say.....and then some. We left Darwin as we last
spoke.....but not without some excitment....Sue and another Swedish girl
encountered a peeping Tom in the Ladies/shower......so we blockcaded him in
his room till the police arrived and dealt with the poor lad..........he was
lucky that more than his eyes didnt pop out.....but it provided a bit of
entertainment for all on the way to the airport........not knowing that we
had much more entertainment to come. For those of you........that are
related to / or have worked with / or are are friends with...( delete as
appr )... with Sue.....willl most liklely not be at all surprised.....to
hear she was picked for the explosives check on our flight to
Brisbane........yes ,,,,the works....from fingernails...to watch
strap....her bags were hoovered out....( we were very glad they removed
some more of that red dust of the outback......as we going to visit Peter
and Moya ) but yes Im sure youre thinking....well a more likely suspect
there isnt this side of the moon........we could only laugh.....I think
some half eaten Mars bars...and some old paper tissues were taken off for
further inspection.......so there could be more on this tale....yet to come.
Then to Brisie.....and it was great to see the relatives......and they
took us up the coast for the weekend......and showed us places called
Margate...Sandgate...and Shorncliffe...well they made us feel so much at
home....especially as it poured all weekend !!!!!! we did have a laugh (
seriously Guys...thank you so much for a wonderful time....we really enjoyed
it....and was just what we needed ) So it was back on the road
after that....and what a road....for we headed up to Daintree and Cape
Tribulation.where Capt Cook put the big hole in the boat and had to put
ashore to do the repairs....he said thats where all his trials and
tribulations began....and of course the name stuck....it is the most amazing
place....Australias jewel in the crown...not like the rest of the
continent..but wet n tropical....exotic and full of the most wonderful life
forms.....like cassawaries and crocs...so we got out there walking and soon
were up to our knees in the most wonderful Tropical
rainforest.....butterflies as big as birds.......exotic bird life.....the
most wonderful plants.......and the 40 shades of green that you may think
are associated with a different part of the world......for up here....they
get that tropical rain that makes for lush growth.....and
diversity.......the forests are a joy to explore....the sound of
frogs....birdsong...and travellers going ohh.....ahhh.....did you see
that...and oh my God isnt it great. and then theres the tabllelands
behind.....again all green and lush...looking for the most part like English
farmland....where you can buy 130 acres and a home with verandas on all
sides for about 100,000 pounds....so we bought at least a couple on our
way.......and if it wasnt for you kind folks back home ...we may well have
proceeded with the purchase. Then we hit the coast where the forests come
down to meet the sea...and if this isnt the most wonderful bit of sea
......then Im an Irishman....for the Great Barrier Reef is one of the
greatest natural wonders of the world....and we have loved every minute of
it....neither of us had been snorkelling before but we have both had a go
and love it so much that we keep going back for more... so mamy different
types of coral....polyps waving their tentacles in the gentle
current....Butterfly fish and Fusillers...drifting slowly by....giant
clams...several feet wide....huge wrasse and parrotfish ....weaving between
your legs...and a thousand electric blue tiddlers....right in front of yer
nose....captivated...is the only word...to be sure.....weve seen inner reefs
and outer reefs and numerous islands along the coast.....looking in on a
different world is such a privilege ( ******* hell .... now we know how
that poor lad in the ladies loo in Darwin felt ) We head on to Fiji
next.....and have decided to go island hopping....down the Yasawas....an
island chain.....spending a couple of nights on each island.....there will
not be any internet so the next you hear of us ....will be when we return to
Los Angeles ( thats if our explosives expert is allowed in).....or if the
lying about under palm trees on remote island beaches is too much to
bear....yes...I know its filthy work....but we will give it our best
effort.....then the final leg of our journey will be the passage up through
the states of Arizona..Utah ( where we meet up with daughter Anna for a week
to walk some of those great parks)...Colorado and finally to
Yellowstone...to complete our passages on either side of this great blue
ocean........we will speak again....and of course see many of you before too
many weeks are out....thats if we make it to the airport here......for we
know weve got to travel on.....but its been so fantastic....that we are both
dragging each other kicking and screaming towards the check
in......savouring our last bit of being here.......thank you Australia.. and
thank you to all those great people we met here too.....more souls to carry
with us as we go.. our hearts are full and theres more water in the
eye..........Ok ....im coming......Im coming........just one more minute
looking at an Australian sunset.............If we linger another minute we
may hear those fatal words ....the flight to Fiji is now closed.......Oh
Bugger..
2005-06-18: Letter from America
Well howdy folks,its been some time.....but believe it or not.....this is
one of the hardest places to find internet access....probally because
everyone has their own at home.......so unlike Aus/NZ..where every little
cafe is on line....here we have had to wait till we hit the big places with
library access.We are here in Boulder, Colorado....enjoying some cultural
activities for a change. But lets fill in the gaps........Fiji......ah yes
Fiji......Milton in his blindness...God bless him.....neglected to tell us
that paradise could be regained ....if you take the Yasawa flyer ( fast cat
) to the end of the Yasawa island chain.......where there is nothing else
except......sand....clear blue water....palm trees.........great coral
reefs...( yes more floating and looking through masks ).....and a bure (
small grass hut at the waters edge.....with a sand floor surrounding a
square of lino....on which stood our bed and mozzy net....and on the bed
every day...fresh flowers )......any arrival or departure on the
island.....is accompanied by the most wonderful South Sea singing + guitar/
uke and drum....and it was truly the most woderful place to lie in a hammock
and read /write.......the only places to go......were the other side of the
island.better known to you movie buffs as the Blue Lagoon...yes this was
where the movie was made.......or Lau's teahouse ( open 24 hours we were
told.....some of those would be on monday....some on tuesday...etc) where
Lau would make you a cup of tea and maybe a slice of her home made choc
cake.......in between making coral jewelery from bits gathered on the
beach.........the tea house had the most wonderful floor of deep
sand.....and while you sat on the most basic wooden seat and table you can
imagine......your toes running through the fine sand........you could stare
at the the greatest abstract painting on earth....for out the glassless
window......was a square of superb turquise and blue bands .....all the way
to some distant horizon....look need I say more.....you get the picture.
The next picture is a littte harder to make sense of.....landing in L.A.and
coping with the rush hour traffic....we have been so long away from large
places......and living at a slower pace......that we really felt like
screaming.......but after a night in a motel.....we headed off to see the
great Sequoia ( the Sherman Tree......the largest living thing on
earth)....and our sanity was restored somewhat.......we drove to Las Vegas
via the Mohave desert.....where daughter Anna was flying out to meet
us......and after losing a few dollars.....yes only a few !.....we set off
for the most amazing week of National Parks across Southern Utah.......from
Bryce Canyon to Arches.....a different park each day.......the red
rocks......the vast canyons.....the early rock drawings of the Anasazi on
rock panels.....the land of the sleeping rainbows......using an excessive
amount of slide film of course......which is becoming harder and harder to
find........How quaint they say...still using that old Victorian
technology........it was great to travel with Annie for the week....and it
was with a few tears in the eye that we saw her off.....back to her life in
Chicago. We headed up into Wyoming...to The grand Tetons Nat Park......and
Yellowstone......where of course at altitude.....we were able to experience
Winter....and walk in deep snow.....and further down the slopes.....SPRING
!!!!.....yes Sue had missed the spring flowers of home.......but the Great
American West.....has the most wonderful display of spring flowers you did
ever see.....vast plains of dark blue Larkspurs.......meadows of Lupins and
mules ears....wayside edges of daisies and flowering yucca......the list
goes on .....it was a great sight to behold. But like the swallows we see on
their migration north to the land of the summer sun.......we have begun to
turn our thoughts to the journey home......yes only days away......of course
we are excited at seeing all our friends and family again......but life on
the road has been the most wonderful experience....and we would wish it on
all of you.....who are so inclined...........we will send you all one more e
mail on our return....with our observations etc......till then its off to
see some live music....a jewish festival....and all that this attractive
town in the Rockies has to offer.....Have a nice day y'all
2005-06-30: Journeys end
So we have recovered from the jet lag........and are trying to make
sense of this strange new country we find ourselves in.....there is the
wonderful compensation of seeing all our family and friends......but
....yes.....a strange sense of loss....at returning to what people call
the Real world.......that other real world out there in the wild....still
calls daily to the heart.....and we are heading out this very day
to.....find some wild stuff to walk in. And as not to be too long at
home........are off to Ireland for a few days next week......its so hard
to stand still. Its not till one leaves familiar shores....that new
vistas are possible......and our journey provoked us to do and think about
all sorts of things in a new light...........We found that we could do
more than we thought when it came to walking / climbing / swimming and
exploring the natural world.......and are resolved to keep up our fitness
if possible. We found after all that time in some of the most wonderful
national parks in the world.......that we cant live without a large
garden......our fingers have been itching to get a planting.......so house
hunting or garden hunting is our first priority......the countryside
calls. Of course there is the small question of the volumes of film and
words collected over the past six months.....to pull together into
something meaningful.......but if this journey has thought us
anything.....its to go out and make the most of this life....while we can.
Thanks to all those wonderful people we met on this journey who enriched
our lives with their kindness and friendship........thanks to all those
who sent us e mails and kept reminding us of the wonderful folks we had
left behind at home. Thanks to Beau....at kent folk.....who has put our
whole journey on the kentfolk website ( follow link from poems
/story/songs to Adrian o )....it was great to know so many travelled with
us ...........what next? ......ah well thats another story.....watch tis
space......till then........fellow travellers.....may our paths cross soon
. Adrian and Sue
Home is where the heart is
but the heart it likes to roam
so we found it in the dessert
as atop a granite dome
and home was where the spirit soared
with the eagle on the wing
and home was where fast mountain streams
life to mighty forests bring
And home was where a single flower
filled the heart with pur delight
and home was where red sunsets
met the birth of starry nights
and home was in the sunrise
with the west wind at our back
and home was by lake lapping shores
that skirt the woodland track
And home was on the ocean
with all creatures great and small
as home is where the ivy
climbs atop the garden wall
and home is on the lonely moor
with the calling of the grouse
For home is more a planet
than the four walls of a house
For home is all those those wonders
that pervade this ball of blue
and yet this home would not be home
if I didnt mention you
For home describes those cheerful smiles
like harbour beacons after all those miles
that tells the travellers when the journey ends
Youre safe again in the arms of FRIENDS
