Hi all,

What a funny day today...NOT!

Left Motueka early for the long drive to Kaikoura as had a booking at 3pm to go out on a boat and see Whales. Kaikoura is about 150kms north of Christchurch and is famour for Whale and Dolphin Watching, as they are abundant in this area. This is because the sea is extremely deep (1600 meters) really close tot he shore and so has all the things that these mammals feed on!

The drive was interesting as the scenery changed from mountaisn to more grassy plains as I went overt he top of Southisland, stopping in Nelson for some breakfast.

Got to Kaikoura at 2pm, only to find out that all Whale watching boats had been cancelled for the day due to high offshroe winds, whiping the sea state up...Damn.... managed to rebook myself ont eh 3pm trip for tommorrow, as i have Dolphin Swimming in the morning...so tommorrow is going to be a busy day.

Without anything alse to do, I checked into the Hostel, YHA again but with beautifal views of the bay. Sorted out some stuff as you have to do and thengot ready to go out in the early night, around 8pm for some food and drinks.

Well Stupid here managed to lock himself out of his room! I went out of the room, locking the door as I left, not realising that I had leftt he room key int he room!!! hey Declan man - this is just like when I locked the car keys of the mazda in the Boot in Firenze italy 3 years ago....exactly the same...

So, with no reception (most hostels close these around 8pm) I went out for my meal and stayed out as long as I could at a local bar drinking till 12pm as i knew when I got back, my sleeping arrangements would be in the small Toyota Starlet I have on hire.... Not the most comfortable night of my trip.

I consoled myself with two thoughts...first after staying in over 60 places this is the first time i have locked myself out...and secondly its Dolphinand Whale tiem tommorrow.