A familiar journey to Kaiapoi

Wednesday 19 November

Despite the call of race day at Phar Lap, we had things to do and places to be so packed up early and headed out of Timaru heading north… with a detour to the dump station which happened to be one street over from Alpine Energy where Jeremy starts his new job next week!

Cruised north under grey skies, shocked by the torrents of water still flooding down the Rangitata, Rakaia & Waimakariri rivers - must have been pouring in the mountains!

Obligatory stop in Ashburton for a coffee & a Kmart shop, then on to Ōtautahi Christchurch and our home-from-home POP at Treehouse Retreat in Kaiapoi in time for lunch. Ella popped over in the afternoon and took me shopping (food and an op shop T-shirt) while Louis swam his many lengths!

At 6ish I met my Christmas Eve wedding couple to check their IDs and have a quick chat then back to Banjo for burgers on the BBQ with Ella & Josh and a video chat with Amy - before the day ended in a spectacular sunset.