Cycling to Oamaru

Tuesday 16 December

Wet and windy night - though we avoided a big battering in our sheltered wee corner at Old Bones. Walking outside in the early morning it was wall to wall grey clouds except for a small gap allowing the sun to turn the paddock in front of the next door farm a vibrant golden yellow.

The sun broke through strongly as the morning progressed, so Louis got the bikes down early as more greyness was forecast for the afternoon, and we whizzed down the old Beach Road (closed to other traffic due to falling down the cliff in several areas 😲) into town. Took a detour to look down on the gorgeous harbour, and passed this amazing green heritage house which has a mini-me painted on the comms box below its fence!

First stop, the bike shop for a new piercing, strident bell for Louis’ bike! Then out onto the pier in search of marine life - only seaweed and some locals to chat to. Bruce was very taken with our e-bikes and we had a long discussion with him and a camera-shy guy about upgrading his walker to a bike!!

Refuelled at The Galley, our favourite cafe in Oamaru, date scone & a latte for Louis and a raspberry blondie for me - with a view to die for! I was fascinated by the overhead lighting in the cafe and wondered if it was from a lighthouse - but no, turned out it came from the operating theatre at the old Oamaru hospital!

Next we swung through the Victorian Precinct and had a lovely chat with Wendy at Buggy Robot. She and her husband Martin moved here a few years back from Titirangi and absolutely love the community. I love the Buggy Robot aesthetic - such quirky creations. The ceramic figures with robotic heads are awesome!

Cycled out to the penguin spot and found seals galore, but no penguins at this time of day. Though there were copious quantities of Otago shags on the old Sumpter Wharf, and a couple of dozing seals on the old pier/harbour wall. In the close up of the coastline below you can see at least 4 seals frolicking in the sea just off shore, about to come in.

Raced the rain back to Banjo and won - even had lunch Al fresco before the clouds burst on & off all afternoon.

We went out window shopping for properties in & around Oamaru but nothing piqued our interest so I baked scones to accompany our tub of fresh cream and we made the mistake of going to see “Ella MacKay” at the cinema without checking reviews… spoiler alert, it was disappointingly dire!

Highlight of the evening was coming back past an awesome Christmas lights house!