During our first weekend in Rakaia we went to Dunedin to meet up with AnneMarie, an old colleague and friend of mine. We stayed with her and her family and we celebrated Christmas in June, complete with dinner, carols and holly! It was lovely to catch up, meet their friends and play articulate. The children had great fun with Rusty the dog.
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The next day we walked on the Otago peninsula and saw massive sealions, just lying on the beach, looking big, strong and formidable. Some were play fighting, some were surfing in the waves. We were reminded that the beach really is their playground, not ours. The beach was covered in yellow eyed penguin foot prints - we didnt see any of these penguins on this occasion. On our way back to Rakaia we huddled together outside in the cold and saw 100 little blue penguins come ashore in Oamaru after their day feeding at sea. They come ashore in groups and waddle together up the rocky coast and run the last bit to their nests. Hilarious to watch. The waves are massive, the penguins are very small, and they somehow survive each night and keep going back for more.
This weekend we went skiing at Mount Hutt, just a short drive away. Skiing kiwi style means you have to put on snow chains to be able to drive half an hour up the mountain on a narrow mud road to the ski field. Sophia Benjamin and Helena had lessons both days and on Sunday they went down the green slopes with us. I had snow boarding lessons which was BRILLIANT, the nearest I have got to flying yet. I found out I am a goofy rider, which means I board with my right foot forward (apparently most people ride with their left foot forward). Goofy or not, we are going back for more the coming weekend, and the one after that and the one after that - we are loving Rakaia.
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The next day we walked on the Otago peninsula and saw massive sealions, just lying on the beach, looking big, strong and formidable. Some were play fighting, some were surfing in the waves. We were reminded that the beach really is their playground, not ours. The beach was covered in yellow eyed penguin foot prints - we didnt see any of these penguins on this occasion. On our way back to Rakaia we huddled together outside in the cold and saw 100 little blue penguins come ashore in Oamaru after their day feeding at sea. They come ashore in groups and waddle together up the rocky coast and run the last bit to their nests. Hilarious to watch. The waves are massive, the penguins are very small, and they somehow survive each night and keep going back for more.
This weekend we went skiing at Mount Hutt, just a short drive away. Skiing kiwi style means you have to put on snow chains to be able to drive half an hour up the mountain on a narrow mud road to the ski field. Sophia Benjamin and Helena had lessons both days and on Sunday they went down the green slopes with us. I had snow boarding lessons which was BRILLIANT, the nearest I have got to flying yet. I found out I am a goofy rider, which means I board with my right foot forward (apparently most people ride with their left foot forward). Goofy or not, we are going back for more the coming weekend, and the one after that and the one after that - we are loving Rakaia.
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