Rugby, Rooster and Rain

Winter is slowly transitioning to spring in Christchurch and more flowers are starting to bloom. 

We stopped at the Christchurch Museum to see an exhibit on Japanese tattoo.  Some impressive work, but, “ouch, that’s gotta hurt” to have it done. 

The Crusaders are a professional rugby union team in Christchurch.  They recently won the Super Rugby title by defeating the Lions from South Africa.  A crowd turned out to welcome them home with a victory celebration.  The Crusaders walked through their fans, signed flags, rugby balls and shirts and posed for numerous selfies. 

Our Thursday tramping was in the port hills – Christchurch was fogged in, but we walked above the clouds.  From our vantage point, the city had totally disappeared.  The fog lasted almost until noon.   

Christchurch, seen from the Port Hills on a normal day

Today Christchurch was invisible, hidden under the fog

Lyttelton harbor, seen from the Port Hills on a normal day

Lyttelton harbor covered in fog

The area we were tramping in had been burned extensively earlier this year but is starting to come back thanks to local restoration efforts.

Scorched vegetation along the Crater Rim track

We heard about a stray rooster who had been living in the hills – people didn’t see him after the fire and thought he had died.  He is still alive though and struts around happily eating apple cores or other lunch leftovers given by trampers. 

Over the weekend we took the bus to New Brighton, another Christchurch seaside suburb.  We wanted to walk on the large pier before it is closed for repairs.  

We also visited with Derry and Elizabeth, both retired university professors who know of Paul’s mom through mutual friends.

Derry and Elizabeth

... and their very friendly puppy

We attended a cultural fest at Lincoln University in Christchurch.  Lincoln has the highest percentage of foreign students of any university in New Zealand.  The students and staff served a great multicultural meal plus showed off in a variety of performances.  The shaking dancer is from Java. 

Sunday we attended the Christchurch Go Green Festival where lots of environmental and food businesses had displays.   We’d never seen a wooden bicycle before. 

And it rained all day again on Monday.  The only good thing was that the wet ground made it easy for Cindy and Willowbank Wildlife Reserve staff to find worms for a treat for the kiwi birds.