Blog 6

What a difference a dolphin tail makes…let me again explain, we stopped in Kaicura because we could swim in the open seas with the dolphins (which was incredible!!) But, had we not done that we would have been in Christchurch, as that was where our Butterfield and Robinson trip began… At the exact moment of the earthquake, we were in the sea surrounded by dolphins… as I said, what a difference a dolphin tail makes…

Our biggest problem was we had left half of our luggage in Christchurch when we went north. It would have been a minor problem, however my medications for the next ten days were in those suitcases. Talk about panic… but we went down to the local pharmacy in town and even though the doctors had left for Christchurch, the pharmacist was able to fill almost all the prescriptions, with the exception of one, which is not sold in NZ. He came up with some substitutes and said he’d get one of the docs to sign the forms when he got back to town. Talk about great customer service!

Moving right along, we were able to contact our B&R guides the next day. They had been in downtown Christchurch during the earthquake, but were all right and busily reorganizing the start point of the trip. They told us to stay put where we were and luckily our B&B had space for us for an extra night. We were then able to organize a special charter van to take us to Christchurch airport (outside the city) and our B&R guides arranged for us to be picked up and driven 70 km south, where amazingly, all but one couple made it. They lived in Australia and decided to stay home. Everyone else was already enroute and we all had stories to tell about how we managed to get to the new starting point. All I can say is B&R is amazing!

So, we met up with the group at lunch and then did a lovely afternoon ride. As you might imagine the gorgeous country club we were staying in was significantly understaffed – since many of the staff had family in Christchurch and had rushed home. We were asked to conserve water and we all helped with the evening buffet—which was supposed to be very short of food. I can’t imagine what they served on a regular night! But, prior to dinner we all showed up at the front of the club, were led to golf carts and went chasing after one another to where our B&R guides had set up a cocktail party—nothing simple in their planning!

The next day was rainy, so only a few of us rode and the others went on a jet boat on the river and then we all met up at a sheep farm for a great tour, wonderful lunch and a demo of sheep shearing. Probably one of the highlights was the pet sheep that had been raised from a lamb and kept wandering through the group, looking for pets and ear scratches.After that, a hearty few of us rode our bikes back in the rain.

There was a wedding in the upper part of the club that night so we had dinner in one of the smaller rooms downstairs –all lighted by candles. It was again a buffet and couldn’t have been lovelier. B&R is never stingy with the wine, and at some point the group of 20 of us began singing. It was great fun; until someone from the staff came down to tell us we were interfering with the wedding toasts. Of course that caused even greater hysteria—but we did take our singing (and wine outside.)

The next day was significantly better weather and we rode along old country roads to a delightful little town with a local al organic restaurant with great local food. One of B&R’s many traits is you never starve! The afternoon ride was a neat flat road, ending in a big hill. Most took advantage of the bus and sag wagon, but a few of us made the grade!

This hotel is especially cool. Each couple has its own condo… They have stocked each frig with wine, beer and the makings for incredible breakfasts—fresh smoked salmon, free-range eggs, muffins, bacon, etc. etc.

This morning we were told to dress for a boat ride on a glacial lake and take our bike clothes along. As Gary, our bus driver was driving along; he said he just had to make a quick stop at the little airport to pick up some gear. Yeh, right! Two planes were waiting and they whisked us all off to the most spectacular tour of the Mt. Cook and the Taisman glaciers. As we climbed above the clouds, the peaks and the glaciers just surrounded us. It was amazing.

The last time John and I were there I couldn’t get him on a plane, but it is truly surprising what group pressure can do. He was thrilled after the trip, but was very hesitant about the small plane prior to that!

Following that they did indeed take us for the promised boat ride. One of the side effects of the earthquake was that about 30 million tons of the iceberg broke off the main part and formed many small icebergs, so our guide told us we were really lucky to see the lake in the shape it was in. Some of the icebergs had rolled during the night and we were seeing fresh ice that was 6 to 8 hundred years old. It sure tasted fresh!

After that it was off to lunch and then a 56 km ride. Only 6 people made it all the way. John made it forty and I was really proud of him. In all due modesty, yours truly made it all the way, but not easily!

After a bus ride back to our condos, we dressed for what they told us would be an average dinner in a small restaurant in town. Again, not true—on the way to the little town there was a lovely old house, all decked out to serve us a fabulous meal of freshly grilled salmon, lamb, beef and amazing salads. As always, the wine flowed. Some of us, after imbibing a bit decided to take the shortcut across the field back to the lodge…big mistake. We lost the path, wound up in a bog, loosing one of our trusty companions to a full fall in the bog. I can’t remember laughing so much in forever. Needless to say we finally found the right trail and made it back.

It is now almost midnight and I’m finishing a load of wash—remember most of our clothes are still in Christchurch in the quarantine area and we have only the few things we took north. It’s amazing what you can live without!

Anyway, excuse all typos, etc., but the good wine is still with me. It has been a fabulous day and we can’t wait to see what our guides have up their sleeves for tomorrow!