A short stay in Picton

3 - 5 April

Aria loved using Royce's iPhone - photo taken on it

Playground at Waikawa bay - Aria worked hard on this flying fox and was able to do it by herself before too long

A favourite activity with Dad - visiting the "beauty parlour",  having her nails done

Aria helps Nana find a geocache

A short trip to the West coast

 1- 3 April  After the orienteering finished we carried on through Arthurs Pass to Greymouth.  The next day we continued to St Arnaud with a lengthy stop exploring Reefton.  Then it was on to Picton along the Wairau valley - the only wet day of our Easter holiday.

A line-up approaching Greymouth

Greymouth beach

Looking for a geocache took us to this spectacular confluence of two rivers just north of Murchison

One of Owen's photos

Castle hill - orienteering in the rocks

The final orienteering event over Easter was a relay competition at Castle Hill, near the highway to Arthur's Pass.  It was a most spectacular event to watch and take part in.  We were able to watch the elite runners racing - they are fit and fast!  It was tricky in those rocks.  Look at the wonderful Canterbury weather we enjoyed over Easter too.

Fraser running one way ...

... and Royce the other way

Easter with Verena and Dave

We enjoyed spending Easter with Verena and Dave, and Sarah, Mike, Mariam and Xavier called in as well and we had two BBQ dinners with most of the family over the weekend.

This was an unusual geocache out on the road very near to Verena and Dave's house.  Royce couldn't find it on her first visit.

Wider family help was enlisted for a second visit!  It was soon found - the container is visible in the photo!

While Royce was orienteering, Verena and Dave took Owen to visit Gunyah Country Estate near  Darfield.
Verena and Dave look very much at home here...

Sprint orienteering in Ferrymead Heritage Park, Christchurch

Good Friday 29 March - The orienteering National Championships over Easter started with an afternoon sprint event at Ferrymead Heritage Park in eastern Christchurch.  It was very tricky running amongst railway tracks and carriages, heritage buildings and even a paintball area.  Royce made too many mistakes and came a distant third in her grade, but it was a most enjoyable and challenging area to visit.  Photos were taken by Jim Hepburn.

Good Friday in Christchurch CBD

Friday 29 March - Owen and I took a walk around the Christchurch CBD.  It was sobering to see so many buildings gone, so much empty space, and so little reconstruction yet.  

It's all right to feel proud of how we've coped

Christchurch - Two years on - Keep on loving & caring for each other

Cashel Mall - container shops

Bridge of Remembrance

Pedestrians are now allowed to enter one corner of Cathedral Square.  So many familiar buildings are gone, so much sky now.

An organised cycle tour through the CBD

A derelict mall

Reconstruction of a building in the Arts Centre

We visited a friend, Alasdair Gartly in Cashmere.  The large boulder, near bottom left came down in the second earthquake and missed houses and cars near his house.

Alasdair's chimney flew off the roof of his house - this is just one part of it.