The Grapevine Backpackers, 29 Park Terrace, Blenheim, $56
Sunday, February 24: Sunny throughout
GPS Tour
Kaikoura South Beach in all its glory.
Was off just after 9:00 this morning and wanted to do the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway again, so I parked on the Esplanade & started from there. Lovely day for the walk and the tide was low again, so I also redid the panorama. Plenty of seals about and I’m afraid at times I could neither keep the 10 m safety distance nor avoid cutting the critters off from their escape route.
| GPS Tour: Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway |
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Had lunch of one-and-a-half cheese sandwiches on the beach front and then was ready to go for Blenheim. Van parked next to me was a Wendekreisen so I accosted the inhabitants for an inspection. Seemed pretty much the standard fare of all the stuff you don’t need (cooker, etc). Filled up the tank – surprised that it must be so small (can’t hold much more than 30 L) which means that I’ll be doing around 5.5 L/100 km.
Ohau Point Fur Seal Colony
Stopped on the way at Ohau to see the seals; none were at the very small pool under the waterfall that is the subject of news every winter, but plenty just down from the lookout.
On arriving in Blenheim I had a walk around town to try to identify the library and the hairdressers where I got my beard trim for Mel in 2009 (no luck) and then the i-SITE – eventually found a map: It is at the station. Bought some earphone covers from Dick Smith, then drove to the i-SITE and enquired about cheap rooms. Motels will generally be around $130; the only camping ground was a TOP 10 – which I am not happy about because they should have explained their discount card to me better (would already have saved $16 on the last stay – one-third of the cost of the card) and the place there was again $80 a night. Two backpackers were also “recommended” down Main St, so after inspecting TOP 10 I went down there to try them out. First place was closed until 5:00; the second place had a room for about the right price and the guy explained their discount system much better. May well opt for the BBH group.
Pictures are being processed and it looks about time to get something to eat.
No bread at the supermarket – got muesli bars instead. Then grabbed some pork fried rice for $11.5, was OK. Sorted and re-sorted some stuff here, this suitcase is quite a bother.
This place reminds me of the Ireland tours of ’79, ’80 and ’81. Except for the weather. That was real backpacking.
