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We arrived in Christchurch around noon, swaped our tiny car for a giant camper van, filled it with food and drink, met Liz and Jim at the airport at 4.30pm ...they'd come in from Thailand.
Tonight we are making pizzas in Liz's friends family outdoor pizza oven and are 'camping on their drive!
We arrived in Christchurch around lunch time, swapped the car for the enormous van did a provisions shop, met Liz and Jim at the airport and followed her friend Viv and her son William to their house.
It turned out that her husband George Richardson (then known as Pevril), went to Stourfield infants and junior school, and then to the boys grammar. I was in the same class as his sister and he knew Annette and Geoff (1954) how small is the world!!! We stayed there for 2 nights enjoyed 2 evening meals prepared by Alistair and William their sons of 15 and 17. They are a very active mountain biking and orienteering family. We had their guided tour of Christchurch, including the earthquake damage which was really mainly just the old brick Victorian built buildings. All other buildings are made of wood and survived, as did the art décor buildings. The second evening we stayed at their house and enjoyed supper prepared by the boys!
06.02.11 Drive from Christchurch to Moeraki
First time driving our big van. It was very windy as we headed down the main North -South route N1 (an ordinary main road, not dual carriage way). We stopped at a nature reserve for lunch, Washdyke Reserve, just North of Timaru. The wind was like a hairdryer so we ended up staying in the van while we ate instead of in the shade on our picnic chairs!!! We travelled South towards Moeraki stopping to look at the Moeraki Boulders. We found a quiet well equipped camp site in the tiny village of Moeraki, and went straight out to Katiki Point to the penguin hide. It was 6pm so we watched the yellow eyed penguins returning to their nests…all 6 of them. They are very rare, only 1000 in New Zealand. It was like being on a nature programme as they landed, waddled up the beach, passed the fur seals, then negotiated the squawking oyster catchers who were guarding their nests and were finally reunited with their now big chicks. We stayed watching until about 7.30pm before making our way back to the camp site. We walked to the tiny harbour of Moeraki where there is only one fish restaurant and nothing else,
was like being on a nature programme as they landed, waddled up the beach, passed the fur seals, then negotiated the squawking oyster catchers who were guarding their nests and were finally reunited with their now big chicks. We stayed watching until about 7.30pm before making our way back to the camp site. We walked to the tiny harbour of Moeraki where there is only one fish restaurant and nothing else, but it had finished serving as it was after 8pm!!! It was really busy, 3 tables were taken. The owner was great, he offered us bread and milk and provisions or to go to his staff party at his house where he was cooking crayfish!!!! Guess what we did.
04.02.10 - 05.02.10 Journey from Taikora to Christchurch and Christchurch
- comments
Lindy Not read all of the latest yet but seen the photos of Charlotte Track. Brought back some lovely memories. We did not freedom walk like you too. We had our belongings moved each day for us to our lodges. Still did the walk though but not the lugging of the camping equipment ! Wish I was with you guys right now. Enjoy your van. It will be great fun. Love Lindy