I wrote the last blog on Saturday morning in the library in Kaikoura. As the library shut at 1pm I had to hurry. As I left our plans had changed. We had previously decided not to whale watch on boats due to rough weather. Peg had now booked a helicopter flight to whale watch at 1-30 so we rushed over to the helicopter location. The copter was very small just the pilot, me and Peg (who was co-pilot!).

We flew over the whale sighting area and as we arrived one male came up to oxygenate and after five minutes of spraying the water in the air, flipped his tail and descended into the depths. We then saw some boats rushing to another spot. Another male but this time he was lying with the swell so we had a fantastic view for the five minutes before he then dived down to feed.

Great trip. At dinner in a resto near by the motel that evening there was a party of 6 on the next table including Ian Botham and his wife.

Drove on Sunday via Christchurch to Akaroa to meet Roger and Deana. Three quarters of the four hour drive was great - the first hour was sea on the left and mountains on the right, then the next hour driving thru very high mountains, then the next driving thru very attractive rolling country side albeit much of it still brown rather than green but the final hour into Christchurch -very boring - there were other cars on the road!

The weather at 12-30pm in Christchurch was 24c and sunny - an hour later in Akaroa it was 14c and raining!

We spoke to David and Emma who have had a bit of a trial - the first three days in Hamiltion, Tom their youngest was in hospital for 3 days with a blood count problem and no sooner had he come out, then Libby the 3 year old had 3 day urine problem!!

Viewed a totally idiosyncratic garden with R &D and had a great meal together - we were last to leave at 11-30pm - NZ people eat early.

Returned to Christchurch Monday and now awaiting flight to Sydney.

On one of the earlier blogs I noted the amount of bred deer. Apparently this started some 40 years ago roughly when the wild deer were captured by guys lying on the landing leg / spar of the helicopter and dropped onto the stag or deer and rode them to bring them to ground and tie them up. Sounds easy work!! So the whole of the deer industry here started by this process!!

Catch up in Sydney.

Bryan