Last weekend we went hiking at Godley Head (a point on the Banks Peninsula near Christchurch) at the invitation of Jennifer, a new friend that Jeremiah met at an engineering conference. There’ enough common ground just sharing a nationality to befriend other Americans here, and Jennifer likes hiking to boot. It was a gorgeous day, first really warm (almost hot) day we’ve had this spring, and conversation never flagged.

Lyttelton Harbor is way down below, the ancient mouth of the volcano.

Sheep now climb on the WWII remnants built to defend NZ against invaders. This was an observation post to eyeball ships approaching Lyttelton harbor. Jeremiah works with a man whose great uncle was a fisherman at the time. Fishing boats approaching the harbor were supposed to give a special secret signal to let observers know who they were, but the uncle forgot one day. They sunk his ship and he died. I bet all the other fishermen remembered to signal after that!

Sheep undoubtedly have the best views in this country, and they are totally unconcerned that the abandoned building they clamber on has so much worrying history behind it.

Milo can’t say much in terms of words yet, but when he saw these sheep he made sure we knew about them (and how cool they were), gesticulating and being quite articulate in his own way.