Two weeks working in Christchurch

We've been quiet for a while because we have been in Christchurch, working - Sau Keng with many others, starting testing for their project. Me by myself with my laptop in our motel room. The flight down was good (thanks Alan for taking us to the airport). The smaller planes with the body under the wings give great views and the day was clear. Sau Keng had the window seat and spent a lot of time watching the South Island go by.

Flying to Christcurch: Waiau Uwha river (I think) - a bit south of Kaikoura. We had great views

We stayed at the Airport Gateway Motel. It's big and very nice, the room was very comfortable. But most days I spent most of the day in our room. Sleep. Breakfast. Work. Escape to join Sau Keng for lunch at the motel restaurant. Back to work again. Escape for dinner. Back. TV or work. Shower. Sleep again. 90% if the day inside one room. So, so different to our riding days.

Our room at the Airport Gateway Motel. Very comfortable but I felt I spent way too much time there. Far too many pillows too!

We did get out a few times of course, and with so many of Sau Keng's workmates here lunches and dinners have very social, there were always people we knew at the Motel restaurant.

We had two company dinners, first at the Lone Star (an American style BBQ restaurant - huge quantities, one main was too much for the both of us) and later at a Tepanyaki restaurant (much more fun). We had dinner with Teresa and John (thanks for the meal and the city tour) And we have had two meals with Sau Keng's old friends Alison and Peter (very nice to see you again and see your new house)

On Sunday we visited Akaroa, Lytteton and New Brighton with Sau Keng's workmates Ad and Clive (Thanks for the ride Ad, that was a very good day) I also had a few walks around the area and out to the airport (where there is a supermarket)

In the evenings Sau Keng caught up on work and I reviewed all our photos to date and did a lot of the organization for a coming Go tournament. We have been busy, but so much less physical than before. I felt very sedentary.

Left column

1. A few nice old buildings remain, but not many. The cathedral is under wraps - literally, it will be a few years I believe before it is back.

2. Black back gulls on New Brighton pier

3. Alison and Sau Keng

Middle column

1. Lunch with Teressa and John

2. War memorial in Akaroa (about 100 dead in the two wars from that small region)

3. Ad, Sau Keng and Clive with Akaroa harbor in the background

4. Lyttelton town

5. New Brighton pier

6. Kite surfer putting on a great show for us with huge jumps when he reaches the pier and turns.

7. Teppanyaki restaurant cooking

Right hand column

1. Cute cafe in Akaroa

2. Sau Keng in the war memorial garden in Akaroa

3. Lyttelton harbor

4. Lyttelton harbor wharfs

5. New Brighton pier

6. Teppanyaki restaurant. Most of the people around us came down with covid 19 a few days after this. Sau Keng and I were fine - must be strong and healthy :-) ... or maybe we were the carriers ?? (don't think so)\

(If the layout and order is different on a phone - treat this as a puzzle! And try it on a laptop, I think it looks better on a bigger display)

On Friday we returned to Palmerston. I checked out at 10, moved our things to storage and worked from the motel restaurant. Talking to Sau Keng at lunch time I mentioned her bulky dressing gown - and was told "Not mine. It's from the motel wardrobe!" I wonder if the receptionist noticed when I put it into the storage area? Anyway she laughed when I confessed to my mistake - and Sau Keng enjoys sharing the story!

It was a good flight back, again we had a clear day with great views. My window seat neighbor took many photos - I think I would have too if I'd been sitting there. She took a few for me too, which was nice. Alan was waiting for us at the airport, so nice to step off the plane and almost immediately see a friendly face. He and his wife are not long back from their South Island holiday with Marica and Maurice. A very good trip from what they say - although with a lot of rain. We managed to fit everything onto our bikes and set off for our Air B&B, I rode very gently as I could feel the extra weight (more than when we were touring) and did not want my 3 spokes missing back wheel to collapse. It was not far to our new home and we arrived without incident.

Our home was a big interesting house with a lovely garden owned by a couple of similar age to us. They rent three rooms and also mind dogs. They have two dogs of their own. She is gardener, also a carpenter, building bird houses and garden obelisks (and probably more) Son and fiancée drop in, they have a family and regular jobs. Very energetic, mostly the wife I think. It's a comfortable and happy feeling house, we enjoyed it a lot.

Saturday lunch was with Marica, Maurice, Alan and his daughters. Alan's wife is ill and stayed away. Our shout as they have been very good to us, transporting our Christchurch clothing, looking after our bikes and delivering us to the airport. Thanks again!

In the afternoon Sau Keng worked and I spread mulch on the garden - a satisfying way to spend the afternoon.

Sunday Sau Keng Uber's back to the airport, she has three more days work in Christchurch. Both our hosts and the other guests have left. It's just me and the dogs. I sharpen the house knives, they really needed it, and when the wife returns I get permission to fix the front door, which is sticking (just on corner I think). I can shave a little off the bottom with one of the now sharp knives - and no more sticking! Only took five minute. I get a hug for this job, maybe it has been annoying her too.

In the afternoon I shuttle the bikes to my new home. We could have kept this room - but it did not appear so on the booking site so Sau Keng found a new home for me. It is very grand! "Welcome to the manor" It also feels deserted, almost spooky. I find my room, the loft, and settle in. A couple of hours later I become aware of another presence, a large sleek mustard coloured dog. The owner is not far behind, a young lady, whose partner owns the house. I'd expected a sedate elderly couple, these two are young and look very fit.

Monday. I'm, up early, for me anyway - 8am, and met dog & owners at breakfast, then ride into town to drop my bike at the shop to get it's new wheel. Gee, riding is so much easier without all the extra weight at the back. And gee, walking (back home) is so much slower than riding. My bike should be ready this afternoon.

The phone goes at 11:30, it's not Sau Keng, this will probably be expensive. "Your hub is non standard, so we can't replace the wheel, do you want us to rebuild the existing wheel? It will cost $100 more..." There is no choice, "Yes please".

A bit after 4pm I walk back to the shop to collect my bike. It's beautifully clean including chain and gear cassette that I can never clean properly. The mechanic says the spokes they used are better than those on the replacement wheel they would have used, and my rim was in good condition, so the extra $100 has bought me something. They also replaced the bottom bracket (bearings that support the pedals) which I had thought was a bit dodgy and serviced the rest of the bike. $650 altogether. Add an expensive new front light - very good from what they (and the internet reviews) say, altogether $900. Close to the original price of the bike. But it feels very solid and quiet riding home. Nice.

5pm, I might as well have dinner, the Wabi Sabi restaurant takes my fancy and unusually I am sending Sau Keng photos of my dinner. It was very tasty. Back home, against the wind but I'm feeling strong :-) (Easy to be strong on a 2km ride) Maybe tomorrow evening I'll explore, there is a track around the south west of the city we have not been to. Long chat with Sau Keng in the evening. She had dinner with friend Jill from Mosgiel, also there is a lot going on at her work she tells me about.

Tuesday, work. I'd don't get out to explore - just a brief ride to get dinner and some fruit. But I do watch the Oppenheimer movie on Netflix.

Wednesday. Work again. Very windy all day - but if it stays the same it will be behind us on our ride across the Tararuas. Sau Keng gets back from Christchurch at about 8pm, 3 flights were cancelled due to wind today so she was nervous. Very good to see her again, it's been much too quiet alone. The forecast for tomorrow is not perfect, but better than what they were forecasting a few days again. Light showers in the morning and overcast in the afternoon. I like Palmerston North. I've never spent time here before - seldom even passed through. It's big enough to have everything, small enough so everything is convenient. Flat so riding is easy, wide roads and plenty of cycle paths help too. The river adds interest and generally everything is well kept. We are impressed - actually most place we have been at have been pretty good. Tomorrow we ride. Time for bed now.

Sunset looking across the school grounds near the Manor

Sunset from the plane flying from Christchurch to Palmerston North