New Friends and Penguins in Timaru

Tuesday 18 November

So lovely waking to the sound of thundering hooves as the racehorses were training round the Phar Lap Raceway. We had a leisurely morning, I went off wandering and exploring our POP’s location. Two of the horses were quite friendly and wandered over to say hello (though one did not appreciate the "Why the long face?" joke!!)

It was probably a fine racecourse in its day, but is very tired and dated now - sadly there was a race meeting scheduled for Wednesday, but we were unaware and already had plans to move on before the first race so would not get to see it in action. It was fascinating seeing the starting gates up close - they were being charged up for the race meeting then will be dragged into place on the track by a tractor. I was amused by the ladies toilet block behind the grandstand - the disabled toilet had been created by smashing down a brick wall between two cubicles, then installing a full wooden bannister rail as the mobility rail! PS - I was naughty and did explore the restricted area - I figured the sign was kinda irrelevant on non-race days.

Lunch inside Banjo as the sandflies were too intense at the picnic table where we started out. Got the bikes down and set off to cycle across town to Patiti Point and the Botanic Gardens (where we met Archie the lollopy GSP/Lab cross - who had the opposite parent combo to Jessie & Shadow). At the lighthouse by Caroline Bay we met a lovely British couple, Margaret & Eric from Leamington Spa who were almost at the end of two months of travelling round NZ.

On our way back from Patiti Point we swung through the park and found a bar for a cooling drink… and there were our new friends! Had a lovely chat and wished them well for the last few days of their trip… only to bump into them again at the Port at sunset as we waited for the little blue penguins, or kororā to return to their nests.

This time we were fortunate to see first three little penguins rush up the beach, and then another one surf in on the tide and a few more emerge from their burrows at the side of the beach… enchanting! 🐧❤️