Tuesday Akaroa - Dunedin

Jon had a bad night with Bertie last night and was up twice.

I told him this morning that we would not have a drink with dinner as I think it might be the beer he has been drinking. They do lots of different beers down here and although he has only had a couple they are not what he has been used to so alcohol is off tonight and then we will see how Bertie behaves.

It was another lovely morning in Akaroa and it was a shame to leave as we had enjoyed the two nights so much.

We paid our bill and set off about 9.30. The sat nav took us back into Christchurch and then out again. Jon had put Timaru into it as our destination but there was a shorter route across country had I realised I would have said something but I was too busy reading about where we were going!

The road were surprisingly straight and the land as far as Oamaru all very flat a little like the Fens but on a bigger scale. They are not called the Canterbury Plains for nothing but it was very boring. However, straight roads mean you can do 100 KM's so at least you feel you are going somewhere.

We stopped just outside Ashburton for coffee and as we got out of the car Jon looked in the back and said "where are the coats"? I had checked the room while he was loading the car and didn't check the cupboard as I didn't think we had used it - Jon had hung the coats up when we came in last night! Oops.

We were two and a half hours down the road so could not go back. I rang the hotel and they had found them so I asked him to post them to our house in Tauranga and we will send him the postage. He wasn't too happy about it as he said it will be a bulky parcel. I told him to buy one of the postage boxes and we will pay for it so he was OK in the end.

So now I have no warm jacket and Jon has no rain jacket or his light jacket he wears at night however he does have his warm jacket as that was still in the car along with my fleece. I have lots of cardigans but I think Mt Cook might need more than that. I need a Red Cross shop!

Never mind these things happen. Jon left his rucksack in one of the bathrooms and that had all his kit in. Fortunately, I spotted that or we really would have been in trouble.

We carried on down as we wanted to make Dunedin. We stopped in a lay by and had the sandwiches I had made and then carried on.

We stopped in Timaru and I was very disappointed as it was not a very nice spot and I always thought it was as it has such a nice name 

It was then on to Oamaru and this is a very pretty town with lots of lovely old limestone building. The country gets more and more like UK the further south we go 

We rang a motel in Dunedin and booked a room so we don't have to drive around when we get there.

I looked for a charity shop but couldn't find one so went into a shop called Postie and thy had a sale on of what I imagine are last year's stock. I found a jacket for $20 (£10) and it will be nice and warm - panic over.

We carried on and the roads were now very windy with lots of hills and we reached Dunedin about 5.30 and went to our motel which is right in the centre.

We got to our suite which is another really good value one with kitchen area, lounge, bedroom and bathroom and only $130.

After a nice cup of tea and a rest to watch the news we sorted out our cases. I am so glad we have one each but keeping it tidy is difficult. This really is living out of a suitcase!

We saw the terrible pictures on TV from Boston. I don't understand how people can do this sort of thing.

We got ready and went out for dinner and it was by now raining a little. We walked around looking for a place and ended up back at the first place we had seen!

It was an Italian restaurant in a building called The Savoy so we can now say we have had dinner at the Savoy albeit the one in Dunedin! 

 We both went for simple tonight, spaghetti bolognaise with salad and garlic bread and it was really good. We drank water and shared a pudding, they must have thought we were real cheap skates! We ordered the small portion and so glad we did as it was very big and I could not finish it all.

We got back to the motel by 8.30 so looks like an early night though Jon wants to watch a programme that is on a bit later about Margaret Thatcher. I do hope her funeral goes well tomorrow and there are no disrespectful demonstrations.

So far Bertie is behaving tonight so fingers crossed and if that is the case it means no beer.

WEATHER Dry start then cloudy driving down to Ashburton followers by light cloud till Dunedin and then light rain 20 - 16 - 18 degrees.