Kaikoura and Sumner
Saturday we drove up to Kaikoura, a town about 180km or 2 1/2 drive north of Christchurch. Billed as 'Where the mountains meet the sea,' is is truly a place to behold. It reminded me very much of Maine, and especially of Bar Harbor, minus the crowds and the cheap tourist crap ... oh, and move Mt. Katahdin about 120 miles to the southeast.
Just outside the town proper is a colony of southern fur seals. There weren't too many seals out Saturday, but I was able to snap a few pictures.
Today we went to Sumner, one of Chch's many ocean-side suburbs. People in Chch like to joke that it's the only city in the world where the cheap houses are near the ocean and the expensive ones are near the airport. Sumner makes a lie of that. We went to Cave Rock, which Evan and Debi climbed while Connor and I explored the cave. It was another beautiful day. This whole weekend we enjoyed nortwesterlies, which are Foehn winds originating in from Australia and across the Tasman, hitting the mountains and bringing warm weather. It was about 68 degrees, so the kids splashed around a little in the water as we walked along the beach.
One thing about NZ weather: it is very mild compared to NH. Consider that while the Northeast is enjoying the last days of summer, we are enjoying the last days of winter. How often do you want to walk along any beach north of Virginia during the winter? On a day like today, though, you see the full range of outerwear. I wasn't alone in walking around in shorts and a t-shirt, but as you can see in the pics, there we also people bundled up in fleece.
Anyway, enjoy the pictures!
Just outside the town proper is a colony of southern fur seals. There weren't too many seals out Saturday, but I was able to snap a few pictures.
Today we went to Sumner, one of Chch's many ocean-side suburbs. People in Chch like to joke that it's the only city in the world where the cheap houses are near the ocean and the expensive ones are near the airport. Sumner makes a lie of that. We went to Cave Rock, which Evan and Debi climbed while Connor and I explored the cave. It was another beautiful day. This whole weekend we enjoyed nortwesterlies, which are Foehn winds originating in from Australia and across the Tasman, hitting the mountains and bringing warm weather. It was about 68 degrees, so the kids splashed around a little in the water as we walked along the beach.
One thing about NZ weather: it is very mild compared to NH. Consider that while the Northeast is enjoying the last days of summer, we are enjoying the last days of winter. How often do you want to walk along any beach north of Virginia during the winter? On a day like today, though, you see the full range of outerwear. I wasn't alone in walking around in shorts and a t-shirt, but as you can see in the pics, there we also people bundled up in fleece.
Anyway, enjoy the pictures!
posted by Jon A at
9:07 PM
5 Comments:
i found you ...
I didn't know I was hiding! :)
Is your upenn e-mail address still working? I sent you a message about 3 or 4 weeks ago letting you know we arrived. Perhaps it didn't go through ... I've been having trouble with my e-mail server. Anyway, our e-mail is still 'jon at altbergs dot net' or 'altbergs at altbergs dot net.' Sorry I haven't peeked in at your livejournal since, oh, May or so. :(
Hi Jon,
Gorgeous pictures! Our new house is on the hill in picture 21. And thank you for the shopping tip - that mall is great!
Take care,
Raina (nolasmom & Larry's wife)
Hey Jon,
Doing lunch duty with Melorah and we were yacking about Power School - your name came up and I checked out your pictures! Look great and I hope all remains well for you and your family out there! Oh yeah, I wil make sure Ben gets your email with voice activation for some memories for you!
Larry A.
Hey Ave!
Glad you found us! I sent out a couple of mass e-mailings back when we first arrived, but I've had some trouble with my contacts in Outlook, so I wasn't really sure who I sent it to and who I forgot! I guess I forgot you. Sorry!
Lunch duty, eh? I guess old habits die hard. ;)
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