Christchurch to Akaroa

We arrived in Christchurch during the last few days of the World Busker Festival and the Paraolympics.  The city was bustling with people,

tourists as well as members of the Christrchurch community emerging from their caccoons after the earthquake in September.

We stayed in an suburban campground and took a bus in to town.  One evening we stayed late and went to a standup commedian performance.  As in most campgrounds, we met some great people.  We hope to meet up with Lena, baby Hugo, and Jan when we visit Germany in a couple of years.

The buskers (street performers) enlivened the city with color and gaiety.  Several of the performers were from the USA including the Black Street Boys.

Many of the older buildings made of stones and bricks had obviously lost their chimneys and facade peaks.

Several buildings were still closed and cordoned off.








Nevertheless, Christchurch is a lovely city with a gorgeous botantical garden filled with roses, dahlias, and begonias.

 
The Museum was well done.  Part of the museum was designed as a small turn of the century village.  Within the village, there was a toy store.  The store featured a Victorian dollhouse that actually suffered some knock overs during the earthquake which the curators decided to leave tumbled.

There was a special exhibit going on at the museum while we were there - photographs of  Scott's and Shackelton's  attempts of reaching the south pole.  Both stories are testimony to the amazing human spirit of explorartion and endurance.

We left Christchurch in a wind and rain storm and headed south to a little village called Akaroa.

It was originally a French settlement and still has a French flavor.

 We didn't do too much when we arrived other than trying to stay dry and in one piece.  The wind was ferocious whipping up waterspouts in the bay and buffeting our campervan from side to side.

By Sunday morning, the storm had passed and we spent the day walking through the quaint town,

Roz having her portrait done

drinking lattes and exploring the old graveyards.  Many of the old gravestones were pitched around during the big quake.

NO RIP Here

Late in the afternoon, we sat in the park and listened to a community concert, ate ice cream and fudge.  Life is tough!

We are now in a little town called Fairlie heading toward Mt. Cook.  It's beautiful today and most likely we will play a round of golf at the public course.

All is well with the 2 Sail R's.

NZ South Island, Kaikoura to Christchurch

Kaikoura Headlands

 Kaikoura

Even though we arrived in Kaikoura on a rainy day, our spirits were brightened because we were reconnecting with our friends Ken and Lori from SV Trim.  We knew our paths would cross somewhere along the way.  With a little advanced planning we met up in Kaikoura late Friday afternoon and spent the rest of the day visiting and eating.  Ken prepared a great spaghetti sauce.  Lori fixed the garlic bread, and we made up the salad.  We had lots of wine, shared NZ hotspots and lots of stories.

The following morning, Ken and Lori left for Hanmer Springs.  We planned to catch up with them on Sunday at Hanmer and visit the thermal baths together.

Saturday it rained most of the day, but that did not deter us from taking a 10 mile hike through Kaikoura and along the headlands peninsula.  Our long distance views were disappointing because of the low cloud cover, nevertheless, the area was beautiful even in the rain.

Downtown Kiakoura

 

 

Tidepools

Beautiful Seaweed and Tidepools

 Late in the afternoon we ducked out of the rain and went to a sheep sheering exhibition. 

Joy of feeding Ram Man!

Legs of Lamb

 The farmer and his wife once owned the entire Kaikoura peninsula.  The price of wool is quite low.  One sheep, sheared twice in one year only produces about $18.00 NZ.  Most of the income comes from lambs sold for meat.  Because farming sheep is not as profitable as it once was, more and more farmers are changing over to cattle and deer.  I suspect the cost of New Zealand lamb in the US is going to get more and more expensive.

Hanmer Springs

On Sunday morning we left early so that we could arrive in Hanmer Springs before 11:00.  Once again it was raining and the clouds were hanging low.  We knew from brochure photographs that we were in mountain country, but we sure couldn’t see them. 

We parked our van next to Ken and Lori’s, packed a picnic lunch, got our beach bags together and walked 500 meters to the thermal springs where we spent the rest of the rainy afternoon sitting in the wonderful warm pools.  It was too wet to take photos so here’s the link to Hanmer Springs.  It’s quite lovely.

After a most relaxing afternoon, it was time for naps, movies, and catching up with Skype calls, reading, and cards.  I taught Lori how to play the card game Golf.  Johnny and Bev Bramble taught us this game several years ago when we cruised with them in Alaska.  It’s fun and not demanding like Fiji/Cannibal Rummy.

The following morning the sky was beautiful and blue.  The sun came out and we were all excited to hit the road and actually see the mountains.  We said our goodbyes.  Ken and Lori are working their way north, and we are working our way south.  Hopefully, we will catch up with the whole puddle jump gang again in April in Auckland before we leave for Fiji.

 

 The scenery to Jacksons was beautiful.

Downtown Hanmer Springs

 Jackson's

When we got to Jackson’s Retreat, a five star campground we were awed by the beauty around us.  We met a couple from Germany, Dorothee and Carsten, with whom we took a night glow worm walk. 

  The New Zealand tourist industry has been hard hit with the sluggish global economics.  If it weren’t for the Germans and the Brits, the campgrounds would be empty.  In our travels we have only met a couple of Americans and Canadians, one Italian couple, and a few French.

During the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, we met a lot of New Zealanders, but they have all since gone back to work and school starts again next week for the kids.  We no longer have to reserve ahead for a campsite.

While at Jackson’s, we took a lovely hike through a fern trail to a waterfall,

 finished our books, washed the van, and are just enjoying being the only people here in the campground surrounded by mountains, brooks, waterfalls, and rivers.  

Arthur's Pass 

When we left Jacksons, we drove through Arthur’s pass and beautiful mountain country.  The road through Arthur’s pass was first built to provide easier access to the gold fields in the 1850’s.  The Ortiri Gorge bridge is quite an engineering feat as the mountains continue to erode and be knocked down by earthquakes.

Here are a few photos of our road trip.  Click for more photos.

Hike to Devil's Punchbowl in Arthur's Pass

Only 365 vertical steps in 1.6 km up to waterfall..but who's counting?

KEA Parrots......Like the Yosemite Bears!  Into everything.

We have been approached by several people inquiring about or van.  As such we are now taking names of interested parties.  We have placed a sign in the back window. 

If you know of anyone coming to NZ who wants to buy an uncommonly nice, small campervan.   Would be great for the World Cup Rugby Championships later this year......Carolyn & Bob?

Contact us.  If you don’t have our email address, make a comment in the blog and give us contact particulars.  Thanks. 

All is well with the 2 Sail R’s, Travel R’s, Camp R’s