Jan 21st

Left at 6.30am and cycled past such lodges as Lazy Shag and Bad Belly backpackers up a hill and out of Kaikoura, the most touristy town so far - people come here to whale spot by boat or plane or swim with the dolphins. The first 20 miles we cycled by the sea;this coastline is so unspoilt and very under-populated and so there are no cafes, coffee stalls, burger bars. Again a beautiful sunny day and again the seashore was full of fur seals. After Aoro the road went inland to cross the Hunderlees, three steep and winding hills for 10 miles, crossed the Conway River and then a long slow ascent to Hawkswood Pass and then down to the Waiau River which was in flood spate because of rain earlier in the week. Peculiar weather conditions as we are now approaching Christchurch where there are a number of forest fires raging and signs everywhere saying the fire hazard conditions are extreme.We are now at Denbar Farm where we are booked to have dinner with our hosts Barry and Denise; there is nowhere else to eat as the farm is quite isolated. Denbar Farm is used to fatten dairy cattle; they also have geese, ducks and sheep. We arrived in time for lunch and afterwards Linda had a 2 hour lesson in felting which is an ancient art, possibly the oldest textile art known. The process using ones hands, wool and water transforms wool fibres into felted objects like scarves, which Linda made or hats. Denise has her own Marino sheep which her husband shears when she needs more wool, and in answer to any such thoughts we will not be getting a sheep any time soon.