Driving in New Zealand . . .

. . . is exciting, because you never know what is coming next.

Take for example the journey we made today from Kaikoura to Christchurch. First the road hugged the coastline, as you can see here - inches from the sea, crazy bends round the rock faces, tunnels etc. Scary enough, but then, just when you think it's all flattening out, you realise that you are climbing up . . . and up . . . and up. And the road is getting narrower and twistier and . . . I think we're in the mountains, where did they spring up from!! And so it goes on - exciting, spectacular and beautiful all at the same time. The good thing is that there is very little on the road, but the bad thing is that the few are mostly huge trucks. Because, believe of not, this is the main highway, the only road between Christchurch and the ferry at Picton. Having said all this, the locals wonder what on earth we are on about!!

Blipmeet
Fortunately we had respite from this in the form of a stop for a Blipmeet. flying suggested we meet at the Railway Station Café at Domett and what a lovely place that turned out to be. If you're ever on the road between Kaikoura and Christchurch, this is the place for coffee, cakes, lunch - anything. A wonderful haven.

So we met up and what a delight that was. Me, Gordon, flying and her mother . . . and Blipbear. A really lovely meeting with chat and laughs. Thank you both of you for coming up there to meet us. It was a real pleasure meeting you both.

Blipbear
During the next few days Blipbear (now sporting a New Zealand badge by the way) will pop up in a number of different journals. It will be a challenge for all you Blipbear followers to find him each day. I will help. Today he is here.