last one

Last trip to the beach today.  The Yarn Bag (TM) is stuffed full of shells and stones we've picked up.

Looking out across Auckland harbour to Rangitoto.  I don't do cities, but if I have to spend time in one, better for it to be made up of sea and volcanoes.

I can't wait to get home now.  Remind me of this when I'm whinging about the cold grey drizzle in Derbyshire...

extras in a roadtrip movie

Classic Otago filmset landscape today.  I expected Aslan to appear at any moment.  Or possibly a posse of orcs...

 (If you're from Derbyshire, that is Officially Too Much Sky; it's unnerving...)

We've nearly finished our South Island tour, with steampunk in Oamaru, and the world's biggest jersey and a a reproduction Bayeux tapestry made out of broken knitting machine cogs (just google it, OK?) in Geraldine.  Flying back to Auckland tomorrow...

a series of unfortunate events

So far Iona has capsized her kayak in Lake Wanaka, and fallen off one of the Moeraki boulders into the sea.  She is very cross about this. We're all waiting with bated breath to see what she accomplishes next.

Benedict would like to report that he's wrestled with sealions, had tea with a penguin and toasted marshmallows on a volcano... none of the above is true, but he's not one to let the truth get in the way of a good story...

Sealions...

and penguins...

and seals...

in which Alexander is dismayed by the insectlife

Upon my arrival in this abominable South Island place I was viciously attacked by a plague of despicable sandflies. They are everywhere! It is not good for ones complexion. First sand, then mud and now my fur is a mass of itchy lumps. Ahh 'tis abominable!

Now this is the most biggest bite provided by those despicable insects. I fear that the whole leg will explode and ruin my fur, not that it is in a very good condition anyhow. 

And this is the most bites on one person which these creatures have dispensed, and on my good friend Bonedict.

no Eostre

It's definitely Autumn down here in Wanaka.  Chocolate eggs and a long weekend of holidays, but no spring lambs or new growth.  It's all egg-xceedingly odd.

morning/evening

9am, looking out across the Kenepuru Sound.

9pm, blogging in front of the fire, Glenhope.

As we drive South, we're catching up with Autumn.  Crisp clear mornings and evenings, and stunning colours.

day off

We've had a day off, relaxing, in the Marlborough Sounds.  Not driving, not moving on anywhere.

Bacon sandwiches for breakfast, kayaking, hot tub, forage shellfish off the beach, lunch, swim, hot tub, hammocks, pizza, bed...

cyclonic

We are tired.  We've done a whirlwind tour of the North Island.  9 days, 8 different hostels.  Sand, sea, dolphins, volcanoes, lakes, bubbling mud.  It's all a bit of a blur.  As a family, we don't tend to do this kind of tourism.  We go somewhere, and just stay there, hanging out.

We've now driven the entire length of the North Island, from Cape Reinga down to Wellington.  Tomorrow, we have a ferry to catch across the Cook Straits.  There's also a tropical storm bringing a lot of weather, so it's all change.

Sun going down over the Tasman Sea.

in which Alexander is bewildered by floating stones

Ach, this country, it is preposterous!

Thank goodness, we have now left the sea behind (the saltwater plays havoc with my fur), but those dreadful children still found a lake to throw stones into.

But these stones were absurd, they float!  What is the world coming to?

"It is because they are made of hummous," said the middlest (and most ridiculous) child.  I give up.  I am going to hibernate.