Kaikoura

Looking back at yesterday we made a very good decision to head north to Kaikoura before the weather deteriorated.  According to the news Christchurch and its surrounds haven't fared too well with flooding. Since arriving here it has also done nothing but rain though our camping spot is sheltered from the prevailing Easterly. Actually it isn't even that cold, with a 12 degree start to the morning it felt almost tropical to us hardy Invercargillites!!





We left Christchurch, after a mild drama, about 11:30am. Stephen had fitted a new thermostat to the bus engine while we were camped up at Weedons and of course yesterday was the first day it had been out on the road since. When the temperature gauge suddenly shot up much higher than it had been doing in the past, he had a mild panic.  After some creative diagnosis it was decided that the position of the needle on the gauge was sitting at a higher position than before so all was fine.


We had a late lunch at Cheviot (in the bus of course) before negotiating the Hundlees. I was very pleased to arrive in Kaikoura and find our camping spot for the night. I am not usually one to feel motion sickness but every now and again certain roads can make me feel decidedly queasy.   Our park is out on the peninsula, and not far from the fishing wharf.  We have a great view of the sea but it is also providing us with shelter.   It is a forager's dream with wild silver beet, parsley and fennel growing profusely. The silver beet has adapted to the conditions and the leaves have an almost succulent type texture.

Today we visited friends for a morning cuppa. They have decided this is the place they want to retire to, so have purchased a house on the Esplanade and have jobs to take them through to retirement. Liz used to be part of the 'Playgroup' I belonged to when the children were small. The group still meets in Invercargill on a very irregular basis (without the children obviously) so it is great to meet up again with friends that have moved on. Sally is in Auckland so hopefully we will see her too.

Late in the afternoon we decided that a bit of exercise was called for so we drove further around the Peninsula to the start of the Peninsula Walking Track. We were well rugged up to brave the elements. As Stephen said the conditions could be called 'spirited' to say the least.

We walked for half an hour along the top of the cliffs before turning back. It is advertised as a place from which to observe whales, dolphins and seals but for us the only seals we got to see were back at the car-park. By this time we were very wet  but all sign of cobwebs were long gone.

The baby seal that was taking shelter from the weather
in a rest area by the car park.