Picton

These were all taken in Kaikoura. Look at the sunshine! It was raining the night before. NZ as an island country has constantly changing weather.

We have re-packed everything because the water taxi takes a small bag, each for us, out to our hotels on the Queen Charlotte Track, and we carry small day packs on our backs. The motel will keep our big bags until we get back on Saturday afternoon (your Friday). It has been a challenge to re-organize, but I think we've got it!

This is the view from our walk this morning on the Kaikoura peninsula. We walked through pasture land, always with the Pacific on one side. It is a very dramatic coast line with heavy surf on lots of rock out-croppings. It's also a seal colony. Beginning to get our fill of seals. According to the locals, they are protected but eating up the fish.

We leave on the water taxi at 10:00 a.m., walk for nine miles, and stay at the luxurious (well-deserved) "No Road Inn," for the first night. We will be out of touch for three full days because I'm not lugging this Toshiba on the track. It stays here in Picton. We hope for clear weather like today.