We sadly left the motel at Blenheim as we’d had a good time there and a rest. But pleased to continue our travels.

It was a fairly short journey to Kaikoura and the road follows the coastline all the way.

We stopped for a breakfast/ lunch

We are interested to see the effect of the recent earthquake in Kaikoura. The rock formations are different from those we remembered especially where we saw the seal colony. It is so good to see the many seals are still in the area. The road and railway line as you get nearer Kaikoura have all been rebuilt. There are shipping containers positioned to prevent rock falls reaching the road and lots of work still going on to improve the road and railway. The rocks that have uplifted from the sea are very white in colour.

In the town we stopped to book a whale watching tour on Wednesday. The town was busy with tourists. We went up to a viewing platform

and then to the end of the bay.

Here the rock was a strange pavement of raised up seabed. It was like smooth dried up clay and not jagged. This is where another seal colony should be but only 2 could be seen in the distance, effect of the earthquake? Did you see how huge the yellow sea weed is?

So here we are in an a Irish pub and motel with a huge garden and land around to walk in. Our room is right at the back away from the Irish music piped into the bar and is quiet.

So its Otis’s 5th birthday today…Happy birthday Otis, sorry grandma and grandad cant come to your house today! We love you very much big boy ….5 today xxxxx

love to you all

Grandma and Grandad xxx