January 14 - Day 6

Today is the official first day of our tour. We got up at 5:30 and caught our Uber to the airport at 6:30. Everything went smoothly and we arrived in plenty of time. We got a coffee and I got some chia pudding to eat. Matt wanted to share my coffee but I want an entire coffee by myself! I really didn’t want to share. I’m treating him like my husband these days. Telling him what I think and how I feel. He ended up getting his own coffee. Oh dear. But he is ever the good sport about everything.

The plane was on time and we got to Christchurch with time to spare. Found our group and then waited a very long time for two missing people, both older guys. We finally found one of them wandering around. He somehow missed us, I have no idea how. The airport is small and there aren’t a lot of places to be. We never did find the other guy and the rest of us finally went on to our lunch spot in Kaiapoi, which was pretty close. After we arrived there, we found out he was already in Hamner Springs and had failed to let our host know. The bus company sent a shuttle back to pick up Eric, our other tour director who had stayed behind to wait for the missing person. When we arrived at the Red Eight Cafe in Kaiapoi, they informed us that they had a power outage, the first in six years. In any case, they took care of us the best they could. We ate cold food. It was delicious but Matt and I are both feeling below empty and the salad they gave us seemed pretty pitiful for the appetites we had. I asked for a slice of bread to accompany the salad and they did comply.

After lunch, we are on the road for Hamner. Of course, I fell asleep because that is what I do on buses. It was a couple hour drive. The day was overcast but the scenery was beautiful. When we arrived, we checked in to the Tussock Peak Lodge. It is very nice. 

After checking in, we went for a walk through the woods around the Lodge. It was nice to move and everything is so green. Although hardly any of the plants are native to this area, it is lush with greenery and beautiful plants and trees. 

Our walk ended at the Hamner Springs Hotel. We were all given an opportunity for a drink of our choice and then we had our orientation for the tour. We met our comrades for the next ten days. Dinner was then served and the food was wonderful. I was starving by now and really appreciated the meal. I ate every bite of my dinner and almost finished my dessert too. Forced myself to stop.

After dinner, we walked back to the Lodge. By now, it is lightly drizzling and we are seeing signs of the weather we have been promised for tomorrow. It is supposed to rain heavily for the next two days. We have hikes and rafting planned and we are unsure what we will be able to do. 

We are going to do what we can and keep a positive attitude. That is the plan. We shall see. 


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