Birthday gifts

Hi everyone! Well, today was a bunch of birthday gifts just for me. I woke up to the sunrise above and who could ask for anything more? But more it was. I started the day on a boat in 25 knot winds and whitecaps everywhere. The swells were about 8-10 feet. Being an old salt myself, I had no problems, but the 30 or so 10-11 yr. old girls was quite a different story. (Can I never get away from school kids?) Anyway, we motored up the Otago Harbour for a look at the local wild life. It was difficult to get close to them, but the skipper did his best. To the sound of retching into paper bags and such on the boat, I could hear the gulls, comorants and Royal Albatrosses. I saw a few albatross nests on the sides of the hills, but watching them soar into the air was a sight to best be seen by the eye and not the camera.

I disembarked at Wellers Bay, at the mouth of the harbour and went to the Penguin Place, a conservation area on the cliffs of the beach where they come ashore. I climbed down to see some of them molting, some juveniles and even a little blue penguin. So cool! I saw some fur seals up close and personal, the cute little adorable guys. A family owns the entire 1200 acres and have set aside 75 for the conservation of these highly endangered penguins.

Next, John, a local tour guide, picked me up and drove me around the harbour back to Dunedin. The coastal road is spectacular and as I was the only guest on board, he stopped when I wanted to take photos. It is hard to believe this is the same Pacific Ocean that touches Mexico. The day was so clear, I could see all the way to Dunedin, 15 miles away.

John delived me to the Railway Station where I boarded the Taieri Gorge Railroad for a 4 hour trip up the gorge past shist and gneiss rocks on the hills and basalt columns high above the Taieri River. We went across some questionable viaducts and actually WALKED across one! The scenery was fantastic no matter which side of the train you sat on. Of course, I stood between cars to take some photos. It was a wonderful time.

I had Sushi for dinner, with my traditional glass of wine, climbed the hill and watched the sun set over the Otago Harbour. A tremendous day!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes! We can celebrate when I return.

Love,
Kerry