Red Rocks and Ann's Visit

My friend Ann was just visiting from Sydney. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate very much--we got downpoured out of both Pinnacles and Mt. Taranaki. Of course, the upside of that is that you get a very convenient excuse to do a fair amount of eating and drinking. But there were a couple nice days. One had a spectacular view of the South Island (my first) from the south end of Welly, but the camera didn't want to come along that day. So I'll just have to report: it's pretty amazing how is just looks like these towering alps shooting straight out of the ocean. On another day, fortunately, we did get manage to remember the camera. So, here's Ann at Red Rocks, as well as what just looks like a pile of rocks but is really littered with large brown lumps, which are seals enjoying the last of the sun, and, finally, one of my favorite furry friends from that day--the seals here have attitude, I guess.