Jenna and I are drinking coffee in the DOC kitchen immersed in conversation. When Jenna says “guys that’s our stuff.” I turn around to see people cooking with our cooker and piling up our food and camp gear into a pile. Feeling quite shocked, I say, “Yeah, that’s our cooker too.” They apologise profusely, and we tell them they can use it, but it is common decency to ask first. The lady quickly finishes her eggs. How on earth would they think that a large pile of food, including a chilly bin and a $200 gas cooker and $200 pot is free to use, is beyond me. They must have been in NZ for 5min in a Jucy rental. The lady said the cooker in the rental doesn’t work in windy weather. We were nice about it, or should I say Jenna was nice about it. I was too shocked and slow to react.

The day is looking a lot more promising, we go up Mt Robert to see a view of the lake. Originally thinking we would head to another lake and spend another night in the area. With the weather a bit yucky, we pointed towards Kaikoura instead. This meant we needed to go back the way we came. When we reached Blenheim, we refuelled both our stomachs and the car. Germie wanted to go to the SPCA again and pick up an NZ Wool blanket. From Blenheim, we headed to Ward Beach. A beach none of us have been to. At the beach, there is a spot for self-contained campers. It is really windy on the beach, and we walk out to find the boulders.

From Ward Beach we headed to Kaikoura. Arriving around 5pm, I started looking up accommodation. The prices are insane. Maybe I am not used to a third person. One really gross place wanted to charge us $67 for a spot to pitch the tent. By now it was time to get some kai. Coopers fish and chips is a place Rowan and i have been to a few times and Jenna was recommended. The weather was foul about 11 degrees and lots of rain. With a unanimous decision to camp in Cheviot, we headed south. A rural setting and $45 for the night. It is also a lot closer to Motunau. A hot shower, and we feel a lot better. No love loss leaving Kaikoura, every time Jenna has been there it is raining.

A happy birthday to my little sister Sarah ❤