We ended up staying in an air bnb because it was going to be cheaper than buying fuel to get to work everyday…yep fuel is that expensive here. But it all turned out great. We showered everyday for 3 whole days and got to use a refrigerator. And we can’t forget about the toaster, I love me a good toaster. We were staying with a lovely married couple Toni and Gram. Toni even made us scones, yum. But the best part was they had a puppy, Little Man. This puppy was adorable I love him!
After work ended we headed back up to Christchurch but not before we went to Laboratory, another brewery. The brewers had the coolest shirts but of course they weren’t for sale. The bar tender was nice enough to even ask one of the brewers if I could have his shirt. He probably thought I was joking…I was not. What I should have done was offer to trade shirts (go panthers, I was wearing my Carolina shirt). We stayed at Bens house only because we really wanted donuts the next morning. If you are ever in Christchurch go to the Donut Boutique (but not sat through mon they are closed), the donuts are to die for.
Then we were off to Kaikoura. It is so beautiful there but not too much to do. We wanted to go to Cape Campbell which in theory should only be a 45 min drive or so from Kaikoura. But because of the earthquake the smallest parts of root 1 are closed so our 45 min trip turned into a 6 hour drive. Yeah that just goes to show ya how few roads there are in NZ and there are no roads down the middle of the south island because of mountains. So needless to say nothing is direct.
We drowned out our sorrows at the forest winery. They had this fun wine that I obviously don’t know anything about because wine novice here. But it was red and had bubble so I was fan. Next stop library to get a charge and some wifi. We have been running into more and more crazies at libraries, I guess the universe is just trying to prepare us for the States again where there are crazies everywhere.
The next morning we went to Cape Campbell. We were told that this beach use to be mostly rock but because of the earthquake it is now a really cool mixture between rock and sand. So really this is some of the freshest sand around! (I got you mama Donaher). Unfortunately because we did not research the lighthouse on Cape Campbell, we were not able to hike there because the tides were not cooperating. We didn’t even think that would be a problem, needless to say we were sufficiently bummed we love lighthouses.
Then we headed to Nelson where we just mucked around for a bit. Going to the market, watching movies, eating a cheesecake, and finally getting a shower. We did however make it to the Pic’s peanut butter factory. This was high on our list we are peanut butter fanatics. Apparently it is a well known thing that Americans love peanut butter…we got a lot of comments from the tour leader and the people in our group (we aren’t even a little ashamed). We of course had to get matching peanut butter shirts. Then we were on our way. P.S. They now sell Pic’s peanut butter over in the States and on Amazon…I’m quite excited.
It's like we are back at University. The van is about the size of our apt bedroom and you gotta have beer boxes as furniture...it's just and unspoken rule.
Then we were off. We pick up cousin Anne on September 4th. So between August 16th and September 4th we will have circumnavigated the south island, believe it or not that was not the initial plan, but being 2 middle children we don’t think ahead or plan too well.
End Note
A week in braids
Maggie is the best at French braiding. It’s a hell of a lot easier just keeping your hair in braids than having to deal with it everyday. However apparently it’s not great for you hair to be in French braids for a week or 2. So I might be going bald, which is not goo because man I have a really big and badly shaped head. You'll still love me when all my hair falls out...right?
We spent way too long hanging out with this little bird and trying to take it's picture. I think Mags was trying to make up for the 4 birds we have hit with the van.