We have switched to the Google version of Blogger and I hope this post works out OK. A week ago today we were still driving in the dusk towards Okahune having left the campsite on South Island in the morning and caught the ferry across to Wellington. It feels like more than a week, mind you the camping gear that is strewn all over the house waiting to be put away is a constant reminder that we have not long since returned.These 5 pictures find us pushing South into new territory, down the wild Kaikoura coast where there were lots of campsites squashed in between the huge hills and the wild crashing sea. Perhaps it is not always wild there, but I would not fancy spending 2 weeks being buffeted around. We made it to Christchurch to a very pleasant and surprisingly quiet campsite in South New BRighton. It was only 20 minutes from the city centre as we discovered when Paddy split his head open in the playground that first night and we had to go to the 24hr doctors in the city centre. Fortunately he just needed some glue. His brothers were most impressed by the plasma tv in reception - where people often have to wait for several hours to be seen - which had just started showing LOTR as we sat down! They were disappointed that Patrick was seen to within 15 minutes. Very efficient friendly clean and all for $45 .
The next day we went back to the cente to spend lots of money, to await the opening of the UK shop (which didn't) , to enjoy the range of shops - second hand books, magic shop, sushi etc. We enjoyed the buskers in Cathedral square and the giant chess was very dramatic too.
The first picture is of me fishing. I am having a very poor run of fishing at the moment, having notched up some 16 hours of fishing in about 10 different places using a variety of techniques, baits times without catching anything big enough to eat. The picture shows me trying at Blenheim, but I also tried Brighton Pier, Okarito Lagoon and today we went back to Tokerau Beach. The water has warmed up and I have been hearing other people talk about catching fish around the place so I was mildly optimistic. Instead the sea was full of red seaweed that clung to the line and bait and made it impossible to fish. Perhaps I should see how long I can go without catching anything even though I am trying my hardest.
To add insult to injury Eric took my swimmers having decided that he did actually want to have a swim and then he left all the towels next to my fishing bag, just before a large wave came in and swept everything up the beach. I have to say that I was in quite a bad mood after that! Trying to salvage something I spent 20 minutes untangling the stunt kite that Uncle Nick and Aunty Kala (spelling dodgy?) had bought for Stuart many moons ago. We figured out how to build it and it was ace, ducking and diving in the strong wind with its 20 foot long tail. All the boys had a go and Eric was the best at keeping it aloft. It was nice to do something that they all enjoyed and made up for the other disappointments.
