Left Kaikoura on Thursday, after a glorious few days in Christchurch. We had only planned on staying overnight and continuing on our way, but four days later we said our goodbyes and (granted we don’t fall in love with EVERY city we go to) would consider making a home there come January. We stayed on a chicken farm called Chickadee while we were there with the wonderful Addington family. Peter, the father, is a total nutter. He is fascinated with America and can’t stay on one topic for more than 30 seconds before he is distractedly on to the next. Lois, the mother, loved having girls around who talk about life and their feelings (she has four boys). James, the youngest, flirts with us ALL the time. He’s 17 and a horrific driver. Myles can’t stop laughing at nothing. And Julian patiently taught us about lead climbing. As soon as we can figure out how to put pictures up from Lauren’s camera we’ll provide excellent photo documentation of this.

Here are some pictures from our last days in Dunedin. Lauren’s little sisters Grace and Georgia were real serious about Uno.

Sol square in Christchurch was one of our favorite spots. Bikes bolted to concrete walls.. bars with couches and armchairs in the alleys.. and a jazz club called Fat Eddy’s that blew any other bar I’ve been to out of the water.

Made Myles go canoeing with us down the river that goes through the city centre.

We sprung for a fancy dinner and amazing dark beer instead of paying for a hostel, later finding a nice spot on the beach where we cozied up and slept in the back of the car. Constance Connie the Commodore Commie has been perfect. Just three American girls in the bench seat up front cruising around middle earth.