Why is Growler so happy?

[growler_south]

Because I went home today. Not my parent's home but MINE- home to my mountain.
Everyone needs a mountain, and I feel sorry for people who are born without one. My mountain is a particualrly nice one: it's not too high, you can walk to the top of it in 3.5 hours, it has a couple of tumbling clear rivers flowing around it, it's dotted with 100-year old ruins, mines and bridges, and its totally covered in bush.



I've been a little out of sorts over the last couple of weeks, happy most of the time but frustrated and depressed at being stuck in my situation for the next few weeks. Meditation was helping but I needed a quick fix. Visiting my mountain is always the cure. As I walk through the bush, swim in the rivers, explore the mineshafts and waterways, it reminds me of who I am. I grew up here, and it taught me that beauty is everywhere, that I'm well capable of looking after myself, and that the things I need to be happy are very few and very simple. I look at the world like a kid again, and its a great way to see things :-)




The Ohinemuri river runs along the base of Mt Karangahake, and carved the rocky gorge. We used to dive and swim in the river, build rafts and race them down it, play with tractor inner-tubes and lumps of driftwood. I went to the river's edge and it smelled crisp and green. And then hungry sandflies attacked me.



I retreated to higher ground and wandered round the old ruins. The area was a huge gold mining settlement 100 years ago, and the place is littered with the foundations of abandoned buildings, giant steel wheels, beams, and processing pits. We try not to fall into the pits...



I had a wee swim in the Waitawheta river- it's clear and clean, and has rapids to play in. Its also FUCKIN FREEZING at this time of year. I didnt swim for long, as my nuts leapt so far into my body I thought they were trying to strangle me. No, there are no pics of me cold and wet- my hands were shaking and all I wanted was to get DRY and WARM.



I visited my old primary school too- they added a big new sign, and thats about it :-)
I stopped by to see my godmother as well, she lives in our old home- my sister's room still has the wee plaque on the door that says 'Clare's room'. My plaque's been removed... hurrumph! but my old 'tree house' is still there- before town supply, everyone had their own header tank for water. Dad built ours on 4 large poles, and built me a wee hut underneath. Complete with aluminium joinery!




So that was my day in pictures. Once I got back to Auckland (8pm) I had a really nice dinner with Paul3, and then to Urge. Once again, I wasnt interested in any advances from the assembled drooling masses, and came home at midnight- but this time I wasnt disappointed or frustrated with myself, I am just happy to be me, even with all my quirks and insecurities :-)

It's been a VERY good day.

Oh and I had many lovely phone calls today- a couple from a happy Boof, doing his bit for foreign relations, and another from Robbie n Fish, both giggling and chatting like happy schoolgirls. Fantastic!!! :-D

Comments

[torsvan.livejournal.com]

Loved this post. I agree - everyone should have a mountain - a place for a bit of a recharge and regrounding. A natural environment that you feel connected to. I must find myself one... I have a few in mind, but it is difficult when you .. er.. don't have a car to get out and explore off the beaten track. It is also wonderful to see a landscape with actual rivers flowing through it. The drought in Australia has caused a lot of the rivers to dry up or be reduced to dribbles through the countryside... so it's very refreshing to see them and think - oh yes.. rivers still exist! Thanks - you brightened my morning.