QUEENSTOWN – CHRISTCHURCH – KAIKО̄URA, 20 May 2024
And so it was that the tale of Red Carpet Tours and its Fellowship came to an end on a very chilly Monday morning.
Breakfast was quite subdued for most people. Personally, I found myself masking a lot during this tour. By no means in a bad way, but I tend to make more jokes and be a lot more talkative when I’m nervous and more thoughtful and quiet when I’m very comfortable, I’m sure many can relate. On this morning, I was firmly the latter. The mask was off. I had no reason to keep it on anymore. I sat at the table writing a letter each (all with an accompanying pin) for McKenzie, Joseph, Liam, and Emma, and reflected on the gratitude of this entire experience and these wonderful people. Liam, by contrast, rolled his eyes when I said this, which stung a little, being emotionally so open and vulnerable takes a lot for me, or anyone, unless I’m at work. But, there’s no way he could know that, and equally, nothing a sarcastic clap back can’t fix between pals.
Jon left to pick up our as yet unnamed van, and that kicked off the ‘leaving’. McKenzie went to carry on packing, followed by Joseph. Liam and Emma left shortly after to do the same. They were all travelling to Auckland, staying overnight, and leaving the next day. That left me, Emily & Joshua, Angela, Jenna, Conor, and a few others. It was nice. It was enough.
Then I finished the letters and managed to grab some breakfast just before Jon called that he was on his way back and to prepare the luggage. We had a tiny window to load the van and just leave right away, so suddenly, whatever needed saying needed to be said now.
I dropped McKenzie’s and Joseph’s letters to their room. It was private and a lovely moment. They had chatted with Jon and I from the very first meeting back in Auckland, which seemed like a life age ago. Liam and Emma had joined our mino Fellowship in Wellington, so it was not long after. But, long enough to feel like there was something unique to the 4 of us. We had literally gone end to end, and that’s amazing.
Some loving smiles, good hugs, and plans for different ways to keep in touch exchanged, I came to the front lobby to find Emma and Liam and did the same.
I am very lucky to have met the people I did on this trip. Like any great story, it’s the people that make it great. The place is just good set dressing!
Emma and I joked about Liam’s lack of emotion, being more the “cut and run” kind of person (which I actually completely empathise with and understand). Liam laughed and acknowledged it all, and then we all sat laughing and waiting. It was exactly the right way to say goodbye (for now).
As I grabbed the bags, Jon arrived, and I dashed upstairs to hug and give goodbyes to everyone I could from the tour (most of whom were at the breakfast bar). A bunch of them hugged me with, “Chief! Bye, Chief!!”. I had to laugh because I’d cry otherwise. It was all so… genuine.
We smashed the cases and bags onto the van (not realising a drawer wasn’t latched), and suddenly, we were giving our last hugs to Liam and Emma, and suddenly, up I looked to…
And then… we turned the corner.
And it was over.
To say everything that needs saying for how this felt would take a lot more time and thought, which may come when I expand the chapters. But, for now, I will simply say that I am so truly grateful to Red Carpet, to the amazing adventures with everyone, the love and laughter, and to Liam and Emma and the endless jokes, and to McKenzie and Joseph and the warmth and sincerity. It’s rare that I bond so much with people. Here I am, walking away with so many wonderful beginnings.
Lucky me.
So, the long journey home began!
Of the drive, there is little to say other than to note the sheer distance Jon drove… almost 2/3s of the South Island in a single day. The craziest thing about it was leaving Winter to arrive in a UK summer, bit by bit.
We drove through sweeping snow fields, and the journey through the Alps was a lesson in gripping to your seat. Remember that drawer? It was the utensil drawer. We learned that when the f*ckin thing flew out halfway across the van. Good. Goodgoodgood.
A few snaps of Lake Tekapo, which was great because Lake Pukaki was literally just fog. Then… gone. Now it was rain as we sang our little hearts out (not loudly. Turns out Jon likes music quite quiet, which is okay. It’s one of the many ways we differ, which is good to know when travelling together) to La La Land and Chicago, before doing an AMAZING, pitch perfect (really), rendition of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, including gaily smiling and singing:
Oh, chitty, you, chitty, pretty, chitty bang bang. Chitty chitty bang bang, we love you!
Arriving at a place, somewhat near, sort of, potentially, approximately around or adjacent to Christchurch (which I’m now convinced is just several shopping outlets and a hotel smashed together…), I grabbed some *surprisingly* good chain food sushi while charging my phone.
We arrived in Kaikōura just before 10pm. It was an almost 12 hour drive, 10 hours of driving overall, and we’d driven the equivalent of Penzance to Glasgow.
We crashed on our beds. Hard.
At least the hardest part was over.
Starting tomorrow, there’d be activities.
Starting with finding a wild Whale…
– Jake,
25 May 2024
P.S. Jon is also writing about his version of events over on his Tumblr page, Misplaced Midlanders! Check it out!
The Long Expected Journey 