Onwards and Upwards

The progress map remains unchanged as we have spent a further 2 weeks in Christchurch sitting out lockdown in the slightly less constrained Level 3. From our apartment overlooking the coast, east of Christchurch, we have had a good couple of weeks. 

Lyttelton Timeball

Janet, our landlady, has been exceptionally kind providing us with use of a car and her electric bikes; so, with the benefit of exceptionally good weather we have had a good time exploring The Port Hills. Walks have taken us around, up and over, to see lovely coastline, WWII gun emplacements and Lyttelton Harbour - once the departure point for Scott and Shackleton's exploration of Antarctica and now a significant industrial port as well as being home to one of the few remaining timeballs in the world (details)




Down on the coast at McCormacks Bay Reserve there is a wide range of birdlife - Kingfisher, Royal Spoonbill, White-faced Heron, Stilts, Shags, Pied & Variable Oystercatchers. The kingfishers were particularly eye-catching in the afternoon sun ! 

Pied Shag

Variable & Pied Oystercatchers

White-faced Heron

Kingfisher

At the time of writing NZ has kept the Covid-19 virus under control and decided to further ease the restrictions to Level 2. In 2 days time life should return to near normal for Kiwis, with pretty well all activities allowed provided social distancing is maintained. 
Good news for us is that travel around NZ is allowed once again so we can finally move on. Plans are being made for a new campervan so the next installment should see us heading slowly north and reporting from pastures new. 

Best wishes to you all and here's hoping your restrictions also ease soon.

Cycling above Lyttelton Harbour