Back on the Stray bus from Christchurch, we stopped off at a roadside cafe in a little town. On the opposite side of the road was a portable speed camera which displayed the speed of passing cars with 'Slow Down' if they were over the limit. Rangi, the driver hadn't seen one before and decided he wanted to have some fun with it... We reversed up the road, back past the cafe and (with the encouragement of everyone) floored it, to see how fast he could get on the counter. We only managed about 25-30km/h. So we went round again! I'm glad I picked Stray. Later, whilst driving towards Kaikoura, Rangi taught us to sing the Haka so we could scream it at the telly during the All Blacks - France game that night.
When we got to Kaikoura, a quietly busy little seaside town set up for whale and dolphin watching, we went to the seal colony there.
Luckily I didn't do the seal equivalent of saying 'Come and 'ave a go If you think you're 'ard enough' so they didn't try and eat me. We also saw a pod of about 20 dolphins just off of the beach. I'd have loved to have swum with them but the water was freezing (as one guy found out when he tried to swim out - he found it so cold he couldn't breathe!) I later found out they come towards the shore when they're being chased by Killer/Orca Whales. Probably best I stayed on the shore then.
Today, I've sat in the homely common room here at the 'Dusky Lodge' in Kaikoura. I've sat here typing away looking out at the snowcapped mountains in front of me, with a roaring fire behind me. My bedroom faces across the road and out onto the ocean. At 4pm, the bakers next door brings in all the leftover cakes and rolls from the day, so I've just had a big cream filled chocolate eclair and a cup of tea. Theres a free outdoor spa, breakfast is free, tea and coffee is free, you can even hire free mountain bikes and ride around town. This place was recommended to me by various people I've met along the way and I'm really glad I came here!
Do you know, a week or so back, I was actually feeling homesick!! Stupid boy.