A visit to Nan's

Yesterday we said farewell to Nan. We got up early and packed all our stuff. We had a few things she had given us to take home, but most were small and could fit into our over packed car. It took a while to get the car loaded and it felt like it was going to rain. It was cold.
We said farewell and I think all three of us felt relieved. Driving straight through to Christchurch for lunch with Lorraine – she had pasta on the stove and the most magnificent tomato sauce bubbling away, to which she then added sardines! It was so yum and warming.
We had coffee and off-loaded stories of the last two weeks. Lorraine looked good – she was to have a busy week of hospital stuff.
I bought a sourdough loaf from the bakery next door, and we left for our house at Sumner and got here late afternoon. It’s up on a hill on a road where my uncle and aunt lived (Keith and Mary Plunkett) – their house was destroyed in the earthquake (they had passed away long before that). It is quite a modern unit and is attached to the owner’s house.
We went out for pizza for dinner and bought dessert (Tim Tams) at the supermarket. The pizza place was quite (it was Monday) – we did enjoy the ribs, then pizza with a glass of red.
This morning, we took our time getting up. The weather was windy and low cloud – threatening to rain. We had no plans so decided to go for a walk along the estuary trail. We headed east passed the town and around to the surf club. Despite it being a workday there were lots of walkers, bikers and runners too. The tide was low enough for walking on the beach. The wind was driving in the surf and swell – some board riders were trying to find a suitable wave while fighting each wave head on.
We must have been out for over an hour, got back to the car and set off aimlessly and found ourselves Evans Pass road that eventually lead to Lyttleton – there was a great view looking across the harbour in the mist. We decided to have lunch and went to a café that we have been to before where the coffee is great. Scrabbled eggs for me and French toast for Mum. Had a wander – visited a couple of galleries and I bought a coffee mug.
Back in the car and we returned back the route we came – didn’t want to head into the City. Then drove out to New Brighton – I wanted to see the pier and walk to the end. The sea here was raging – the breakers were racing in. A couple of wind surfers were taking their chances with the wind and surf. We drove around Brighton for a bit then headed down to the spit where we walked out to the beach and viewed Sumner from there.
Back to Ferry Road and we went for coffee at The Tannery and then wandered around the shops until 5. Then to the supermarket to find something for tea.
Tomorrow we will pack up the car one more time and travel north to Kaikoura and get ourselves mentally prepared for the crossing – we know it won’t be perfect, but we will have to go with it.Lue lisää