All Good Things

In the 1300s, Geoffrey Chaucer wrote: “All good things must come to an end.”  Just as that truth has not changed, I imagine what prompted Chaucer’s observation was the timeless truth that when good things come to an end, we often grieve, and feel a sense of loss.

I know for myself, I was not quite ready for my trek to be over.  Perhaps it was because this trip felt rather slight in comparison to the journey across the country that took 40 days of riding.  I am not dismissing my recent efforts, but rather trying to explain to myself and to you, dear reader, why I wanted to keep riding.  The reality is that at some point, I would either need to pack the bike up to return home, or, had I followed a fanciful daydream of turning west and riding back home, I would have had to stop, and to face the inevitable letdown of the trip being over.  And why not avoid the mistake of starting to ride home only to feel that I had made a colossal error. Luckily, I came to my senses, and spent a wonderful weekend with Janine and Kieran.

When I last posted, I was still in Ferguson Cove, writing with one eye open after a lovely day at the beach. My route into Halifax was short, less than 15 km, but I knew it would involve cycling up Quinpool Rd, which is one of the main roads leading into downtown, so at rush hour it is bumper to bumper.  I started on Purcell’s Cove Rd, with a bike lane the entire way, then hopped on the sidewalk along Quinpool.  I wasn’t going to perish in an ironic fashion a few kilometres before the end of the trip! I had told Lisa of my plan to ride on the sidewalk, but forgot to tell Janine, so she envisioned me battling it out with impatient commuters, and was thrilled to hear I rode on the sidewalk. In fact, she enjoyed telling all of her cycling pals that we met that after riding on the Trans Canada all the way across the country, I had opted for the sidewalk going up Quinpool.  

After making my way to Janine's, I took all of my packs off the bike, and we dropped it off at Long Alley Bicycles, where they did a beautiful job of packing it up for me. We then set off in summery conditions, for a big walk around the city that took us through Point Pleasant Park, and down to the harbour, where we had a delicious lunch on a patio.  As we finished lunch the fog started to roll in, and the temperature dropped significantly.   Suddenly, I was shopping for a sweater to stay warm on the trek back home.  

With my tendency to wake before dawn on this trip, I was usually heading to bed by 9:00 p.m., and wasn’t sure how I was going to stay awake until Kieran’s flight arrived at 11:00 p.m., but Janine made us a lovely dinner, and Andrew concocted some exceptional gin & tonics, and the next thing it was 10:30, and we were heading for the airport.  Though I am all too aware of how quickly one can fly to Halifax, it still amazes me that in little more than two hours, Kieran could cover the distance it took me weeks to pedal. 

Much as we love each other, when we got home around midnight, we said a brief good night and then headed to bed. Janine and I had had notions of running with her friends in the morning, but they started out at 6:50, which was not enticing given our late night, so instead, we met them for coffee at Dilly Dally, a nearby cafe, which I can’t recommend enough for both its amazing coffee, and its delicious baked goods and breakfasts.  While Kieran slumbered, we walked a little further, buying supplies for breakfast in our travels.  

The three of us had a great day exploring the harbour, checking out the market and a few shops, then enjoying a latte while looking out at the brooding sea.  It was a true Halifax day: cool, gray, and drizzly.

In the evening, we walked to The Narrows Public House, which is an amazing pub in an old Captain's house on Gottingen street.  They don’t take reservations, so you need to go prepared to wait, but they do serve you drinks while you wait, and the cocktails are superb. We waited about an hour for our table, but it was well worth it, as the food, which was traditional fare, was incredible.

Arriving home, I was bleary-eyed with fatigue, and headed for bed.  I woke, as usual, before 6:00, and with no one else awake, I put on my running shoes, and went for a slow run through Point Pleasant Park.  I envisioned myself returning to the house buzzing with activity, but the house was just as still as when I left, though slowly everybody gathered for breakfast before heading to the airport.

I cannot imagine what my trip would have been like without my visits, first with Christina, then with Lisa, and finally with Janine, Andrew and Kieran. As Janine had observed earlier in the weekend, there is nothing more important than our relationships with family and friends, and I couldn’t agree more. Even on the way to the airport, there was still more to talk about, and after she dropped Kieran and me off, Kieran and I talked until the very moment I had to get in line for my flight.

It feels extraordinary that suddenly we were together once more, and feeling as connected as we had been for those five life-shaping years in high school. Even as I write this, I realize there is no need for grieving, for there are so many visits and good things ahead, and though they too will come to an end, it is their fleeting nature that makes them so magical, and for each of such magical moments, I am truly grateful.