A fair wind, a cool but sunny day, and a coastal road that hugged the rocky fringes of the Pacific, all heralded the prospect of making up the deficit of yesterday.
Bay after bay, azure blue merged into emerald green, as the road weaved its way round rugged headlands opening up new vistas at every turn.
If you look carefully at this scene, you will detect that the black forms are seals. Colonies of parents caring for their young pups. This went on for miles. No wonder the first British colonists along this coast were the sealers in the 19th century.
A still morning turned into a windy afternoon, but this time it was in my favour. From Ward, I passed through Kaikoura (the whale-watching capital of NZ) and on to Cheviot, where I found a pitch for my tent for $15. 160km (100m): more than my anticipated daily mileage, but wind-assisted this time.
Donations today: 2 Geology students on a field trip gave $5 each, and an English couple, touring NZ on a motorbike, pulled over on the shoulder and made a generous donation.
I estimate I’ve collected nearly $600 so far from spontaneous donations.
Donations to: http://www.justgiving.com/Frank-Burns1
Hi Frank. Great update! Have you ever considered running a Creative Writing class in amongst all your other talents?! 😄
Thanks for the compliment Denise, but I’m trying to retire from teaching……….:0)
Ah, brings back memories. That’s a nice ride, isn’t it? We cheated, and took the train from Kaikoura to Christchurch, but we really enjoyed the ride from Blenheim to Kaikoura. What’s your routing from here onward?
Haven’t finally decided yet……watch this space!
How are the legs keeping up with this relentless pace day after day? Good to hear the wind is in you favour today! David
So far so good David. Thanks for your concern. Today should be flat and easy……….hmmm!