Forest trails and pirate bones.

Saturday 29th Oct; We got up reasonably early to set off for a visit to Banks Peninsula. I wanted to do a few trails on the way. First the Rapaki track that leads up from Christchurch, 5km along gravel, mud and rocks amid walkers, joggers and mtb'ers. It was a bit busy (for NZ) but gave good views over Christchurch the higher we got. The trail ends at the Summit Road that runs along the top of the Port Hills just south of the city. From here there are great views over town, towards the Southern Alps and into Lyttleton habour, too overcast to see the Alps though.

Sealed road then around the bay until we got to the Port Levy/Little River road. It's in the off-road route guide, but my newer map showed it as a major road, the same key as the sealed road we'd been on so I assumed it had been sealed since my guide was written. It hadn't though; 16km of gravel, not rough enough for 4wd but fun enough meandering up steep hillsides through manuka bush and ancient peninsular forest. And THREE dead possums en route, these buggers are really ugly looking...imaging a cat sized rat, black and ginger fur like a cat but Ratty's teeth. Urgh, but I'm determind to have one in the pot before long...maybe I'll drive around and pick up some roadkill ready to serve the famila tea when they come home! I had hoped to do another route but time was getting on and the kids were moaning they were hungry, so back onto seal to the Hilltop Bar & Resturant.

We had a lovely lunch of 'Pirate Bones', bbq spare ribs and chips, and the kids had fish and chips and chicken noodle soup. It was a bit overcast when we went in, but by the time we'd eaten the weather had really turned; it was blowing, freezing and the rain was getting up. So rather than do a few more trails we headed back home and bought a headset on the way...so we are now set up to speak to you good people on Skype http://www.skype.com/download/ so let us know when you are.