111 or - for non-cricket lovers - Nelson

 Jean writes:

We were delighted to find that a continental breakfast is included in the price we're paying at Aloha Lodge, which is comfortable and good value.  We've been buying provisions in supermarkets of late and having breakfasts in our rooms, or outside on the deck if conditions allow, so this is a pleasant departure from the norm.  We've also been providing half of our evening meals from deli counters, pie shops, or take-away pizza parlours, which has all been useful for finances.  

The plan was to investigate our local area this morning so we set off for a walk along the beach five minutes from our motel.  The tide was ebbing leaving a great expanse of sand, and myriad oystercatchers, both black and pied, (with the odd gull) poking around in the sand at the water's edge.

  

Every now and again one of them would find a tasty morsel and go scuttling off up the beach in order to safeguard his catch from its competitors. 

The beach is backed by dunes, stabilised by tough grasses with really long runners.  

This contrasts with some of the coastal landscape we've seen in recent days, with limestone cliffs, volcanic rocks, wave-cut platforms, layered mudstones and strange rock shapes illustrating folding and tilting of the sedimentary rocks.

This afternoon we headed for the centre of Nelson where we enjoyed lively street market, a small art/craft gallery, where I fell in love with a couple of pottery bowls on sale, and the Nelson Museum.  This was a huge contrast to the museum of a couple of days ago.

The presentation was interesting and up-to-date, with local history, Maori art, World War I tributes and a section on Nano Technology Photography, called "Small Matters: Art from the World of Nano Technology".  It comprised a series photos entered into a competition showing a whole variety of materials, organic and inorganic, seen through high powered microscopes.  There were some wonderful patterns and colours.  See: museumnp.org.nz 

Sporting intelligence

Dave writes:

Jogging on beach near Nelson this morning with gulls and oystercatchers for company by the water edge. 

Nice way to start the day and later on at the sports field  by our motel we saw the early stages of a local youngsters' cricket tournament helping mark the World Cup coming to Nelson on Monday. 

It will be a full house of 6,000 at the Saxton Oval where Ireland play West Indies. We have tickets and did a recce today as the ground is about eight miles outside Nelson. 

Not well signposted or heralded but we eventually located it near the local sports centre. 

Should make a scenic backdrop for TV and a huge contrast to Melbourne which we viewed with sadness tonight as England crashed to another defeat. Finn hat-trick meaningless, alas. 
Locals happy though after New Zealand easily beat Sri Lanka in Christchurch. 

The  NZ v OZ match in Auckland on Feb 28 should be a cracker - and we managed today to get tickets. 

Meanwhile, a TV audience of 1.2 billion is expected for the India v Pakistan game tomorrow.