Goodbye comfort. Hello...?

There had only been the one type of farewell I was aware of. The one where the return will be to the familiar territory in which friends reign. With this view I would say I have never personally struggled with goodbyes. For even with change how could lives tie so securely with such little knowledge, with so many years unknown? For such to exist within it has to have been constructed from the beginning, where ties have become strong by growing together. It is when one is discovered to have done so, goodbyes become daunting, the attempt to come free of what has grown to be as it is. Would you remove a branch from a tree and think the travelled eye wouldn't notice something missing? The leaves can be picked, for the tree sheds them anyway, none to be missed in colder, quieter times so long as those branches remain. Stronger branches will even cling long after life has left. But contrary to many thoughts, a gaping hole is not what is left. It's a sinking feeling that this wasn't forced upon you, and that what there is to arrive to upon return may not be what it was, what you had wanted. So you must hope for what you will, but permit no regrets to follow.

Riding begins tomorrow! 'Gusty northerly winds, rain and snow' predicted! Not to mention the top of 8degrees...should be an interesting start! Andrew shall hopefully post the first photos later in the day for me! My eyes are suggesting an early morning finish to packing...advice I have no choice but to take. Other than this though all is falling into place...everything seems to have come together very well at the last moment as it always does. The next from me will hopefully be Toowoomba, around 1100kms away from this outer-Goulburn based start. Until then...