Wed. Oct.28

Today we arrived in Dunedin. It was cool, overcast and 55. The weather held it together while we toured the Great Houses of Dunedin. We visited Larnach Castle, which was actually a Manor style house. The gardens were lovely and the view overlooking Dunedin and the Otaga Peninsula was breathtaking. We had a nice lunch in a hotel in Dunedin, did some shopping and visited another beautiful restored mansion called Ovelston. Then the wind and rain came. The 40 mile an hour winds forced us to stay in Dunedin for the night. The channel is narrow and keeping the ship in it was too risky. We will not be visiting Christchurch because of our delayed departure. We are disappointed but glad to know the captain puts the safety of the ship and the cruisers first.
Dunedin was a very friendly place to visit and very Scottish. The hills were covered by white and yellow flowers that are weeds to the residents, but lovely none the less. We saw plenty of sheep on the hills. As a matter of fact, when we were coming in the channel this morning, Joe started taking video and we were close to shore and could hear the sheep. The Rhododendrons are amazing here. I saw vibrant colors everywhere. They are at their peak in blooms right now.