More Goodbyes

Dear all

Well as I type this post I am sitting outside our camper van with a glass of wine next to me,  half way up a hill overlooking Akaroa a small French influenced ex whaling town on the banks peninsula to the South East of Christchurch. The Sun has just set and the clouds overhead are the most glorious golden hues and the lights are starting to be switched on in the little town below.  What a romantic way to end another spectacular day in the South Island.

We started off with quite a late start this morning, in Kaikoura, as we had been up very early the previous two mornings in the attempt to watch the whales. We had already agreed to repeat  the coastal walk again but this time coming back via the beach so we could get more up close and personal with the wildlife. The sun was already baking and we knew it was twice as strong here so we duly "slip, slapped slopped" our sun protection on and off we went. As it was only 2 hours after high tide we went via the cliffs first and had a full over view of the impending tramp over the rocks back. All looked good, so we duly descended down onto the beautiful white pebble beach and spent a couple of hours wandering back along the shore taking pictures of the basking seals and cormorants washing them selves in the surf and basking in the sun. The  younger seals would scatter into the water as we approached and then bit by bit swim back towards us flipping and waving their fins at us. It was very amusing.

The last leg into the last bay was a little bit tricky as the tide hadn't receded as far as we had hoped so we ended up scrambling around the bottom of the cliffs dodging waves, seagulls & rotting kelp in equal measures.  All good fun!

Lunch for me was at the Seafood BBQ caravan which I had spotted on our walk two days earlier. Then it was down to the town Fush and Chuppery !! to say our farewells to the lovely Andy and Charlotte who had come to the end of their adventure down under (just for now me thinks!)

Scenic drive down the coast blah blah blah and here we are on the hill drinking wine and relaxing. It does not get any better!

Thanks for looking

Hugs

Sara

Postscript after finishing this I started talking to our neighbour a lovely man from Blenheim who grows grapes for a living when he's not fishing. Apparently we are not buying and drinking enough NZ wine so I promised him I would do my bit............... Message issued Hilary!!