Heidrun’s Dream of a Coastal Pathway
The following contribution is from local resident Mrs Heidrun…
“On the 1st of March I went to the experts talk organised by the Christchurch Coastal Pathway Group at the Sumner School Hall. The talk was delivered by Megan Wraight – who was involved in designing the Wellington Pathway – and Martin Bryant, who presented his study about public spaces worldwide and explained how some places were redesigned after earthquakes referring to Kobe, San Francisco and others.
Inspired by the talk I had a dream about a breathtaking Coastal Pathway.I was a traveller and the Pathway had been described to me so vividly I wanted to experience it for myself. Therefore in my dream I came to New Zealand to visit.
I found myself at a permanent market hall in Ferrymead, replacing the big apartment block. This prime location was easily accessible and just as easily seen by the many passers-by, who went out to the seaside suburbs.
I saw a buzzing, lively market hall – maybe even on two stories – like the popular ones in Melbourne or some I have seen in Portugal. There were permanent stalls for Grocery growers of the nearby areas like Heathcote Valley and also some for the producers in the Woolston area so that locally produced and grown goods were providing a good selection of merchandise to all passers-by. After having taken time to indulge in the market, I had to make a choice.
There were many options to continue that holiday day: I could take a shuttle to the nearby Heritage village in Ferrymead; I could go and play a round of golf, right next to it; or I could rent a bike, scooter or skateboard and cross the bridge to start my little “journey” along the coast, out to Sumner.
On a rainy or very windy day, I would rather take the tram or bus from the other side of Ferrymead bridge . These would provide a roll on platform for cyclists as well as disabled people – easy access for everyone – so there was the option to ride with the wind or rely on tram/bus if the wind was too strong.
I decided to rent Inline skaters and started on my way. Alongside me were happy healthy people, walking, running, people meeting people, mothers strolling with babies, cyclists on their way to a lunch break at the seaside and walking groups.
By the time I reached Mt.Pleasant, I felt I needed a drink. There was a little cafe at MC Cormack’s Bay and outside the cafe was an information stand suggesting a stroll up the hill to a nice view point. After having had a drink, I did shoulder my skates and took a walk up there.
Having taken in the sight of the alps and the buzzing life below I retraced my steps back to the coastal pathway. At the edge of Mc Cormacks Bay I encountered a very special intersection: There was a ferry to the South Brighton spit and the opportunity to cross over to explore the wildlife in the recreational park, on the other side. It was a very tempting option.
I was destined to dine in Sumner though and decided to take the Ferry another time. Along my route I saw billboards, reminders of peoples experiences and challenges, throughout the Canterbury Earthquakes. I enjoyed reading about the brave and spirited people who moved on from the incredible events, staying in a good spirit, creating this wonderful coastal pathway, I was enjoying now.
When I came to Redcliffs there was a big playground for children, right beside the Rugby Field, as well as a skate park for those on all kinds of boards and skates, with better skills than mine. Young people were enjoying their time trying out the newest jumps and loops. Watching them provided another attraction on the way, as some of those young people were really good, and the place was not only a concrete skate park, but was created to be a recreational park where some endemic trees were giving shade and did show off the luscious greenery of this country.
After a while I got very hungry and I continued into Sumner. There in the heart of this beautiful village I did return my skates at the other end of the rental station, as I intended to take the tram/bus back to my hotel. For the time being dinner had to wait, as the stroll tempted me with gems in the shops around. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue – hang on, that was another dream. Finally my tummy told me to choose the place for dinner and after having settled on a very nicely decorated restaurant, that need was fulfilled to my delight. On this long summer day the sun was still up and I strolled along the beach to digest in the most pleasant imaginable way: “walking into the sunset”. When I rode to the hotel that night, I couldn’t imagine a more perfect holiday than this one. I wrote some postcards home, looking for words to describe this piece of paradise.”
Will it come true. I hope it will”
Published on Wednesday, May 30th, 2012, under News
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