Sunday 16th July 2023

​Hello friends and family
We were lucky with the weather at the start of the week and so Dan and I planted more trees on Sunday and Monday. This time we were planting in between existing trees so were able to be a bit more adventurous with our species.
On Tuesday, Dan, Elaine, and I went on a mini holiday. We set off at 8am and after doing errands in Oamaru, took the inland route north. We had morning tea in Geraldine and lunch at the blue pub in Methven. Dan was the driver, and I was the navigator.

​We arrived in Kaikoura just before 5pm, in time to check into the backpacker’s lodge. I had never stayed in a backpacker’s before, and it was okay. We each had our own bedroom, and as the place was almost empty, our own bathroom and kitchen as well.
We got on board the 10am Whale watching trip and it was fantastic. They have catamarans which deal with rough seas very well. Fortune smiled upon us, and we saw 2 whales in quick succession. We got much closer than I did when I went 20 years ago, but with only one boat. It was not long before the weather cracked up and we headed back to shore, escorted by 200+ Dusky dolphins.

The penguins played while we were away

​We had a forgettable lunch at the Why Not Café and headed south to Hamner Springs. We arrived there at 3pm, just in time for check in to our holiday home for the night. Then it was off to the Hot pools for a soak, and then for dinner at the Irish Pub. On Thursday morning I went back to the hot pools while the others did some sightseeing. In the afternoon, we dropped Dan at Christchurch airport and then came south to Oamaru for Pizza at the Brewery, and then home. There was a continuous stream of traffic going north for the whole trip – that is a 300km queue of cars. Everyone must be going north to celebrate Matariki!

He enjoyed his breakfast

I fed the fledgling by the light of my cell phone when I go home. He is making great progress and is on track for released on Tuesday. Jan and Bronwyn cared for him while I was away.
Have a great week!
Rosalie