Friday 13th - Unlucky?

Jean writes:

First impressions were that luck was not on my side.  Although the day seemed to begin calmly, by the time we reached the whale boat check in, the wind was blowing hard.  The upshot was that at least four sailings were cancelled because of rough seas, and probably more as the day went on.  

When first booking up, we had thought the lady (who sounded Scandinavian in origin) told us to go to the wailway station and imagined she was talking about the old railway.  In fact, the railway is still in operation and Kaikoura has a station.  The newer buildings adjacent to it are concerned with the whale sighting trips, though, and are referred to as the Whale Way Station! 

Disappointment with the cancellation but, being hardy souls, we took it in our stride and set off on the next item on the itinerary - the seal colony.  One MASSIVE male was in view, well out on the rocks, and he posed for us.  

On the other side of the small cove half a dozen more lazed on the rocks very close by.  What luck!

From this spot, a trail leads up some steep slopes to a wonderful look-out over the whole bay.  Such beautiful views.  What a panorama, and what luck to have the time to take them in! 

After coffee, we set off northwards towards Blenheim, our first scheduled stop.  

A few miles out of Kaikoura, along the winding coastal road, I was being tail-gated by a rather rude woman with an SUV.  I pulled in to the side as soon as possible and, blow me (appropriate in those heavy winds!) what should greet our eyes but over a hundred seals, sunning themselves on the rocks, playing in the pools or having a confrontation with other seals.  Lucky that I don't like being pushed along by other drivers! 

Trainspotting

Dave writes:

The 0954 train from Kaikoura to Picton, starting in Christchurch at 0700, runs alongside much of the route we took driving to Nelson.

So we shared superb sea views for the first half and then hilll and mountains after that.

The train, known as the Coastal Pacific, was actually running 30 minutes late which seemed kind of odd for a service operating just once a day on a single line.

But who cares. Not least the passengers in the open outdoor carriage at the back.

Will try to do the trip next time. Must rank high among rail journeys of the world.

More luck on the 13th

By chance we decided to break the driving at Blenheim and hit on Pollard Park just outside the centre.

Lovely gardens and birdlife sharing with various sports activities including croquet (qv), tennis and golf.

On to Nelson where our motel room is spacious, on the ground floor and with views over a local play area with the beach close by.

A good piece of luck as it is "home" for the next four nights!