Kaikoura is short for "place where a demi-god stopped to eat crayfish" in Maori, from "kai" meaning eat and "koura" crayfish. As the legend goes, a deity paused here to munch before continuing the chase of his three fleeing wives. In reality, we can't possibly see how a polygamist demi-god, let alone a mere mortal, could afford even one of the local critters; restaurants bragged of a crayfish dinner, starting at over $100NZ!!!
This morning and well into the afternoon we walked the isthmus and back, about 7 miles of prepared track, thru bluffs, fields, onto pebble beaches past more fur seals, red-billed gull and shag colonies and along chalky white limestone cliffs, all cut and eroded into gorgeous stacks and formations. In the bright sun, the water shone aquamarine greens to dark blues, depending on depth. Especially interesting was a 25' high limestone hill that appeared to be a condominium of rabbits, by the numerous holes, scats and scattered fur.
Pinot Noir tonite, for a change...
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