After a couple of weeks waiting our Suzuki Jimny has arrived. Two weeks ago Jude and I hunted around for a new Jimny in Christchurch, it was not a successful search as we ended up in Timaru where Hollands Suzuki had the only new Jimny JX a manual gearbox. We didn’t want the Sierra or Safari model with all the electronic luxuries like aircon, mags, roof rack, electric windows, central locking, electric side mirrors, side runner bars etc etc, we just wanted the JX basic model with no electrics to short out. The good thing is all the models are equal in every other aspect.Read More →

Tom and Kimberly have never been to Akaroa so it was up early, cloudy, grey and cool was the weather for our trip today, seems this weather is all Christchurch is good for these colder days. With breakfast out of the way off we headed of to Akaroa, the first stop to be Little River for a cuppa, then the windy road over the hills to Akaroa for lunch. It was cool and miserable in Akaroa and very few people about, what a difference to the summer period for this place. Many of the shops were empty of customers and it really makes you wonderRead More →

Tom and Kimberly joined Jude and I for a walk this afternoon along the Crater Rim Track from Dyers Pass to Mount Vernon and back. The weather was a little more acceptable today and the views were outstanding as you had no mist blocking the scenery. Tom and Jude were off setting a good pace as both are pretty light on the weight side and so their power to weight ratio was a benefit to them… in the meantime Kimberly and I stayed in a lower gear as we took our time enjoying the walk at our own leisurely pace. A great afternoons walk inRead More →

Well you would think after a month that we would be running out of things to do in Christchurch, however it is amazing how much there is to do. Christchurch has a lot to offer for the physically needy folk who like a good challenge without going too far from home (if you live here especially). Jude and I have been doing a lot of exploring and apart from the odd excursion into the city and surrounding urban areas like Riccarton, Wigram, Linwood and Brighton, have yet to move away from the Port Hills. The Port Hills are so full of Mountain Bike and walkingRead More →

Otago was our main stay for the summer and autumn but it was Southland (or as I call it Safeland)once again drew us back for family catchups and others things. Our last port of call was Manapouri for a couple of days before heading back to Lowburn for a few days… the weather was well and truly changing to the cooler weather patterns and it was not long before we moved off to Twizel or as our friends Sally and Adrian would say There we enjoyed a 30km bike ride around the canals past Lake Rautaniwha to the main highway Salmon Farms returning to Twizel.Read More →