East Coast - Dunedin/Lake Tekapo/Kaikoura

Dunedin
Late arrival in Dunedin, thanks to Steve for meeting us and getting us back to his home with his parents Gerald & Joan. I tell you it felt absolutely wonderful to be welcomed into their family even for a short time. We even had a real bed and more importantly a real towel and washcloth. Sounds funny but we have been traveling only with a small pack towel and sarong. So, the real stuff felt like a luxury! Thanks so much to Gerald and Joan for driving us around town the next day while Steve was being hardworking! Dunedin is very much a University town and was originally designed after Edinborough in Scotland. It was a surprisingly hilly town with more suburbs then we had experienced in our travels along the west coast of the South Island. Also, thanks to Nick for graciously showing us around and patiently taking us to a shoe store! No purchases but very tempting. We found that in a real city we are pretty lacking when it comes to shoes to go out at night. We'll see what we can find! Girls without one cute pair of shoes is a terrible thing! :)

That night we met up with Nick again and went to Tunnel Beach. It is a very (and I mean it) steep path through some sheep pastures (on either side) down to a gorgeous beach. The sheep were bleeting at us to get a move on! The rock formations were massive and carved out by the powerful surf. Also, there is literally a tunnel of stone steps leading you to the sandy beach. Talk about nature that makes you feel so small but also just encourages you to want to live to the fullest. Nick & Steve, thanks for thinking of this walk - it was incredible. However, the walk back up was a bit of killer although I think the guys weren't even breathing hard. I suppose if we were training every day we would have an easier time! :) After that Nick graciously treated us to an incredible japanese meal at Jizzo in town. A wonderful bottle of New Zealand wine (Church Road Merlot/Cabernet), sushi & sashimi, and teryaki salmon. Oh, I was in heaven especially since I had not eaten any Asian food since I left the States (Korean with Pinling & Chris, yummy!). It looked so beautiful I had to be a tourist and take a photo of the table!

Okay, so Friday was going to be day to visit the Yellow Eyed Penguin Reserve but with foggy weather Gerald recommended we not go. Hmmm, instead we were lazy and did laundry, write in our journals, download photos, and just relax in one place and not drive anywhere. Had some great Indian food that night at Chris & Tara's house (Steve's friends), it was a beautiful home on the hilly part of Brighton Beach. I can't believe that a house like that would go for $250,000 NZ dollars. In the U.S. market for something comparable it would be insane!

Saturday we went with Steve to watch him paddle (surf & ski) for a memorial ride (much earlier day then we were used to but nice to join him). Fairly lazy day and then joined Steve's work Christmas cruise on the Monarch through the Dunedin harbor. Lots of food and fun times! Finally left Dunedin Sunday afternoon, it was difficult to leave our new family. Thanks to Steve, Gerald, and Joan for their hospitality and warmth! Watch out we just might have to come back!

Lake Tekapo\
Nice view of Lake Tekapo when we arrived in the evening and we stayed at a cute place, Tailor Made Backpackers where we had a nice meal of veggie pasta to keep our costs down! Left the next morning to do a hike before heading over to Kaikoura where we hoped to do the swim with the dolphins. So, we decided rather then do the ones the hostel owner suggested we would try another one on the map. Hmmm, turns out it was pretty far out there along a very rocky/dusty road and then we stopped because the sign said it was private property and you couldn't enter without permission. Turns out a couple was already there trying to figure out where the hike was located with no luck. So, we drove all the way out there and then drove back after the guy working on the side told us that hunters were on the private land so no hiking for us!

Luckily, we were on the rocky road with not much on either side when Carrie slid the car on the gravel, yes she does have a lead foot. Scared the shit out of both of us and I was actually looking down reading something to her about hostels and looked up to see the view was sideways now. Everyone was safe and Carrie figured out that you can't drive too fast on rocks and dirt. Good lesson huh!

Kaikoura
Arrived here hoping to do a dolphin swim to find out they are booked through mid-January. Hmmm, so we treated ourselves to a dinner out at Olive Garden. I had a yummy Blue Cod on an asparagus pastry - mmmmm good! No dessert for us though! Trying to be good. This morning we decided to stay another night and do a swim with the seals after talking to some people who went and loved it! Got all suited up in full dry suits with head cover and long sleeves. The shock of the cold water when we first dropped over the side was pretty intense. Once I got moving it felt better but still cold. The seals came so close to us, about 1 foot or less with their funny little whiskered faces coming right at you. And, so many of them swimming around it was so much fun. The way they scratched themselves with the split tail (new zealand fur seals have a split tailfin) was so adorable, it made me giggle in my snorkel as I watched them above and below the water. They are so playful it's a thrill to be swimming with them. When we returned we were freezing but the hot showers helped as did the Seafood Chowder. I guess the apple crumb with ice cream didn't exactly help with warmth but it tasted great and put some smiles on our faces of course!

Next plan is to do a hike tomorrow then head further north to Blenheim and possibly Nelson before taking the Ferry from Picton back to the North Island around Christmas. Miss you all but love the trip and everything I'm experiencing.