Meeting friends - damn the penguins!!!

We arrived in Oamaru for an overnight stop, a town renowned for its limestone buildings, many of which have been recently restored. We had a wander around the old town coming across an old steam train and horse and cart. We also went through the town gardens to admire yet more roses etc taking advantage of some fresh air before the rain set in!!

Over the last few weeks we have been keeping in contact with Mark and Alison Hirst, friends from Headington Road Runners. They have spent the last 4 weeks cycling round the South Island (must be mad!!!) and unfortunately have got very wet on the way!!

We eventually managed to meet up with them in Oamaru, the night before they were leaving NZ to head back home. They managed to book into the same Motel as us, and we spent a lovely evening with them sharing some pizzas and a few glasses of wine (or was it bottles??!!).

In Oamaru there are two different types of penguins - Yellow Eyed and Blue. We decided to try and see the first of these, as they came ashore to their nests. Unfortunately, you are not allowed down onto the beach after 3pm and have to view them from the cliffs some 200 yards away. To cap it all the heavens decided to open again and gale force winds blew!!! Two penguins graciously deigned to come ashore as we stood in the wind and rain - but they were mere dots in the distant mist!!!

The blue penguins were due in after dusk (around about 9.30pm) and with the rain still coming down and the wine taking effect we thought better of venturing out again so carried on with our sociable evening exchanging adventures of the last 4 weeks!!

We saw Mark and Alison off the next morning as they headed to Christchurch and the plane home. We headed inland towards Mount Cook.