The weekend that was long and in the south island

 Hi,

What a mega weekend. Waitangi Day on Thursday and a day off for Mike on Friday saw us do a big roadie with the family.

We were at the airport early Thursday morning with most of Wellington. A very easy Sounds Air flight to Blenheim that was close behind a diverted Picton flight.  They ended up in Blenheim too. Col picked  us up and whisked us to their house for some lovely pancakes.

Thursday morning Sounds Air to Blenheim

Saw Malcolm as he dropped something off. And then into Katla for the drive to Kaikoura to pick up Toby. He had caught a bus from Chc to Kaikoura. As we left Blenheim at 10am, he was just getting into Kaikoura. So he passed the time at cafes and looking at dolphins in the sea.

On the road in The RAV4 - Katla

Collected Toby and continued south down SH1. We stopped just south of Kaikoura because a big pod of dolphins were doing full on somersaults in the bay. So amazing. Got into Christchurch and checked into the Coachman for Thursday night.

Picked up Tessa and out to Gogi for tea and karaoke. Great fun. Sam and Steph joined us. The karaoke was so good we did it before food and after too!

Sourdough

Mike and Toby

Our scores

Mike is too cool

Steph and Sam

Toby nails it

The customer service at Gogi was exceptional. Wow. Food was so good. Would recommend. Back to Coachman for a good sleep.

Little Merchants for brekkie

Up to have brekkie before we drive to Dunedin. Little Merchant is a fave cafe. And good as usual. Popped into the outdoor shop across the road for a chat with the chap there. Mike's tramping jacket comes from them.

A lot of iced latte

At Orokonui

As we came into Dunedin we stopped at Orokonui. Tessa had found it as something to do. And we had never seen the fence posts that Ron and Polly had bought for them. So around 1530 we got there and it was only 1 hour from closing. But after looking up the register we found we could walk up the outside and see the fence posts.

The fence post

The fence post has Toby's name spelled wrong. He is Tony. Fence post #269.  1.3km from the car park up the hill along the outside of the boundary. You get to a flat section at the top and it is a little further along. Benjamin has the next fence post. #270. So happy to have seen this finally.

Hey Toby

Down to Highgate and a quick tea and off to bed. Polly was in fine form. We had Indian from Maori Hill. Delicious. 

Up early for Park Run. Toby came too! The hilly course got to him. But he did it in 42 mins and 17 secs which happened to be the same as my first Dunedin park Run. 

Mid park run

Last lap Toby

The boys coming to their finish line

We did it

Hey wee Peter Pan mouse

All the boys

After park run we went to the museum cafe and Mike joined us after another 5k run. Lovely brekkie there,

Museum cafe

Good iced lattes

St Clair

Took Toby for a drive after lunch. Picked up Tessa and checked out my old house in Dovecote Ave and down to the beach.

Looking good

Cafe

Another drink

We said goodbye to Polly at 1700 and headed north. Got to Oamaru and stopped at Whitestone cheese diner and deli. Wow. What a place. So, so good.

Cheese board at Oamaru

Dropped Toby and Tessa home at 2215. Found our accommodation on Bealey Ave. Salerno. Such a good place. $200 a night. Very good service. Clean. Had a great sleep.

Up for a run in the park (about 1km away). But my right calf was tender so I just walked while Mike did 5k.

Hagley Park Sunday

Mike goes for a run

Iced latte

As added

We went to a cafe on Papanui rd for coffees while Mike blogged. Then off to see Toby. Had some lunch at Joe's Garage.

Matcha iced latte

Cafe ambience

Then Poms for tea. And back to Toby's for a movie. The Fall Guy. We all enjoyed it. Walked back to Coachman. Saw Angela St.

Angela St

Up for Uber early. 5am. And a coffee at the airport from the new place. Fern and Co. Not that good. Customer service was lacking and the coffee did not taste nice. No pic of my iced latte!

Homeward bound

Good Jetstar flight home. Uber with Larry was super fast into town. Took all the short cuts.

Hope your day is good.

Love,

Angela