In the space of a few days we transited a few of New Zealand’s maritime hotspots. French Pass, Alligator Head, Cape Lambert, Cape Jackson, Cape Koamuru, the Cook Strait and Cape Campbell. If you’re a boatie bod look them up. They all have their own reputations. We read evocative words as part of our passage planning.  “Strong tides, whirlpools and dragons live here”. “It could be the second windiest place in New Zealand”. 

A couple we chatted to in passing said, “Oh we got knocked flat going round Cape Jackson”. 

We saw no dragons. Was I little disappointed? We must have got our sums and times right this time. Slack tide is your friend. Avoid the wind over tide shenanigans. French Pass was quiet. We took the inside passage through Cape Jackson between the headland and the lighthouse. We had a few hundred meters of bouncy-ness and could easily imagine how truly hideous it could be in strong winds. 

Then it was a fast run down the Cook Strait with just the headsail up. Wind and tide behind us. 

Today finds me in the library in Lyttelton, a slightly kooky (in a good way) place, a 20 minute bus ride from Christchurch. Lyttelton is surrounded by hills which provide fine walking and great views. I know, I’ve been up there. 

We had a city day, learning about the earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. I didn’t know about liquefaction. (It’s a process whereby the shaking of the earthquake causes the soil to behave more like a liquid than a solid.)  Watching footage of individual personal stories was powerful. 

We spent the afternoon wandering around the botanic gardens which are just lovely. In the UK you’d have to pay to be in such a space. Not so here, a great asset to be enjoyed by all. 

Tomorrow we are meeting a friend in Christchurch who we knew in Derbyshire but haven’t seen him for many years. He moved to Mongolia and we think he lives with his family in Beijing now. We’re very much looking forward to seeing you Chris. 😀