This morning (Wed 15th) we drove over the hills and through valleys to the little seaside town of Nelson; it took just under two hours from Blenheim and the drive was very pleasant. When we got there it was very hot and we headed to nearby Tahunanui Beach, stopping for cool drinks on the way. It was great to see lots of people swimming in the sea, and of course I wanted to join them. The trouble was that I had neither swimming costume nor towel with me. Needless to say I didn’t let that hold me back. T-shirt and pants became my swimming costume, there was a small and very basic changing room at the Beach Café, and I was soon running into the waves. These were quite large but I was encouraged by the sight of all the other bold swimmers. From time to time a wave rose up high enough above me to obscure the horizon in scenes that reminded me of the waves in the film “The Perfect Storm.” James walked up and down the length of the sandy beach while I was swimming. It was all great fun until I had to face the logistics of getting out and dried. I used the shower in the changing room to get rid of some of the sand and salt, and put on my clothes and my new pants (purchased in a Countdown supermarket that we passed) onto wet skin which wasn’t all that pleasant. However it was so warm that I soon dried off.
On our way back to Blenheim we stopped at Havelock, home of the green-lipped mussel, and had a tasty meal in The Captain’s Daughter restaurant. James had the mussels and assured me that they did not disappoint. Half way through our meal, at about twenty past seven, there was a loud rumbling and the whole building started to shake. It went on for about 15 seconds and everyone including the staff were all looking around. It was an earthquake! Immediately afterwards Jamie phoned from Wellington - they had felt it too, it originated between the north and south islands. The magnitude was 6.3, which is a strong earthquake. It’s also the first earthquake that I have ever experienced.
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