Last stop

We wake up to a rather dark, misty and wet morning. Everyone else is still asleep but Rob has breakfast set up for us at 7am in the kitchen downstairs and keeps us company while we eat. He entertains us with more fascinating tales about his life and encourages Ross to consider buying the castle (yes it's been for sale for nearly 2 years) ... er, not that we have several spare millions lying around.

Rob is a gentleman to the end and holds an umbrella to escort us to our car when we leave. I give him a hug and wish him a Merry Christmas which seems to take him by surprise. He is almost a little dazed at being touched and mumbles that he had forgotten it is Christmas next week. We drive away from Castle Claremont in the pouring rain, and look back to see Rob still waving to us from the driveway before walking back into the house - shoulders slumped, face set and ever so slightly diminished. 

*****

Apart from a very soggy stop for coffee in Ashburton, it is a straight run on the highway back to Christchurch. Ross navigates the heavy rain, spray and poor visibility on the roads for 2.5 hours. Thankfully the highway has been reopened after the floods last week and we pass by the major earthworks to shore up the Rangitata River. Of course once we reach Christchurch and drop off the hire car by the airport, the rain starts to ease. 

It is only late morning but we check-in to the Novotel Christchurch Airport anyway, and we're thrilled to be spending our last night in New Zealand in some luxury. The hotel only opened a few weeks ago and from behind triple glazed glass, we can see the runway.

A very modern and comfortable room

The view from our window - Air New Zealand has planes in action so that's a good sign for the morrow!

We sit by the window mesmerised just watching the planes as we finish the last of our lunch provisions. It isn't raining any more but it looks gloomy outside and is very cold (only 15°C). We watch as some newly arrived visitors battle the gusty winds on the airport concourse below and struggle to load their suitcases onto a bus. A man loses his hat which bolts and tumbles away from his grasp and is blown across the road beneath a parked car.  

Ross and I decide to stay in the warmth and comfort of our room and spend the afternoon reading and watching movies instead! At dinner time, we go upstairs to the hotel restaurant, which is still so beautifully new and also has sweeping views of the airport runway. Wow! The food is great and I am so happy that there is Asian food on the menu that I could jump up and dance. Ross enjoys his last slab of NZ fish and I revel in some oh-so-welcome tofu and rice. 

With that, we conclude our holiday and retreat to our room for some sleep and an early start tomorrow for the long journey home.