The train ride was another scenic wonderland. Mountains, river valleys, small towns, rugged coastal views and of course sheep! Some of the river valleys got quite narrow and turned into gorges. The rivers are "braided rivers" not common around the world. The Waiau river is known for its serious whitewater class III and class IV that flow through a tight gorge. No hard core rafting is in the plan for us. We are flat water folks and class II is entertaining enough for us. We got into Christ church around 7:30PM with just enough light left to get to the AirBnB and the store. All settled in and ready for Christchurch exploration in the morning.
Last view of Kaikoura
Nice clear skies
Tall peaks
Lush pasture land
Big waves along this rocky coast
We alternated riding along the coast and then inland and back
Nice waves but too close to the rocks to surf
We sat on the water side this trip
There were tunnels when the mountains reached the sea
Rugged cliffs
Sheltered bays
We rode along this river up stream
Following the valley
Uphill to this heart shaped patch of trees reflecting our love for each other
The valley is getting tight
Then we crossed over to another river valley
Old school train worker quarters
Nothing big but enough for a small family
Now following a different river
As it flows to the sea
Still small but in a steep valley
It widened out
The valley was raised 1000 feet over the millennia by glacial deposits washed down from the mountains inland
A braided river is a type of river system found here, in Alaska and in the Himalayas. It is characteristic of a river that carries so much sediment that it constantly changes course. The sediment settles and fills in one section so the river moves to another section
All that sediment makes for rich fertile soil
Some funky cloud formations
Rugged hills as we leave the river valley
Another wine region
Some cows mixed in with the sheep
Not every view was beautiful, just 99% of them
A car show!
Or maybe a classic car parade
For a town of only 13,000
They can draw in lots of classic cars
Our last stop before Christchurch
Even more classic cars
Our new place!
It has been 235 days since we began our Migration
