Labour day in Kaikoura

Weekend of October 25th, 2008. All Images

Man lets hope I can remember how all the great parts of this weekend that occurred over a month ago. First I would like to apologize to the girls for not getting this up sooner and for missing a write up about our last vacation, this one’s for my lesbian’s friends.
Thank you for inviting me share your last weekend/holiday in New Zealand. Bonnie and Clair have been in NZ for many months are now GTFO. Marek and I set out from Wellington while Matt jumped a plane from Auckland. Jenny had just arrived from the UK the day before and was seriously jet lagged when we met.

As we rolled into town the rest of the gang had just purchased a load of groceries and were on their way to make lunch. Me, always being the nice guy, pulled over and offered to take their goods to the backpacker. The poor starving fools would come to find out some 30 minutes later that their lunch had been hijacked and was not coming back anytime soon. I promise we didn’t know we had their lunch…. ;)

We spent that evening walking and playing on the beach. Is it still a beach if there isn’t any sand? It shouldn’t be if you ask me but hey, words are just words. This “beach” was just a load of fist size and larger rocks. It made a really cool sound as the tide came in and out, check it out here. Matt kept us entertained by trying to hit a seagull. We got his focus changed for a couple minutes trying to hit a stick out in the water. A boy can so easily be distracted, oo shiny! I found some fennel growing just up from the beach so I took a load back to broil up, mmm. I don’t think anyone else was impressed but hey, I didn’t have the make or break parmesan.

Saturday we went out for a walk on the Peninsula(map), six would start four would finish. You get pretty hungry on these long walks and the weak never seem to make it home 8)
The wind and ever threatening rain wasn’t so nice for Jen and Clair so they headed back the way we came, too bad for them because the sun came our and the wind wasn’t so bad on the “beach.”

Turns out that Marek and I wandered into a seagull nesting ground; the sign was on the trail and we were walking the “beach.” Anyway we were snapping off some pics of flying and nesting gulls and some seals out playing when we notice some guy waving at us. As we wandered back that way this guy was asking if we knew how to read, to which I said no speak English ;) na but I really wish I had. This guy was pretty pissed that we missed the sign… O Bonnie everyone/thing gets stressed it’s just part of life. ;) The tide was in and we were unsure if we could make it around the rocks. After some tricky jumps from rock to rock and tide surge timing we were able to make it to the final dangerous crossing. A big lazy seal was napping right where we had to pass, no more than 2 feet from biting our ankles off! We made it but Bonnie almost got us all killed. Being the only girl with us she would have to be the one to step on the only stick in the area making a loud sound to stir the beast. It had probably just finish off eating the last tourist that passed by and was too full and tired to move so we make it back w/o spilt blood. I’d have to say, I sure would like to know what seal tastes like.
Little did we know this was only a taste of our adventures to come. I had found a waterfall hike, 10 min return, about 30km out of town that morning and now being back in the car full of energy Matt suggested we check out the falls. On the drive we passed the seal colony and Matt said, “I wonder if the seals ever swim up all the river and streams in the area?” As we arrived at the falls, Matt first noticed a couple pup seals swimming and playing under the falls.
Guess that answers that question! I love it when things like that happen.
It was pretty damn cool being so close, we hung out for a long while watching them and they eventually were quizzical enough to come up. Matt and Bonnie used some flax to splash up the water. They liked it and came over to investigate and ended up playing for a good five minutes. Cute little buggers with their sleek bodies, long whiskers and big round eyes. There were five pups and not adults to be seen. Three were playing in the water, one sleeping on a rock and wouldn’t couldn’t be bothered and another somewhere in the bush that Bonnie and Matt sought out.
Topping this night off was a nice spa soak, drinks by the fire, food hunt in the rain which turned out to be expensive gourmet pizza that was so delish!

We had booked a whale watch for yesterday but because of the weather and waves it was postponed to today and what a beautiful day it turned out to be! Clear skies, albatross, dolphins and one whale made the $130 trip worth while, well maybe but I need to convince myself so ya it was great!

Unfortunately Marek and I had to hurry back to catch the ferry so the weekend had to come to an end :’( Number and hugs were exchanged with full expectations of seeing these great people again in the future.
Good luck on the rest of your trip Clair. Bonnie, back to work for you and I hope you get “sorted.” I’ll come and visit both of you in the next year or two max.
Matt lets make some SCUBA plans and Jenny try to remember what it is you came to NZ for or where you put your shoes for that matter.

Speaking of shoes, huge props go out to Matt for shipping returning to the backpacker to get my Chaco sandles and shipping them to me! I owe ya...

View Larger Map