Thursday, March 5: A couple of clouds about, more in the mountains, but sunny by the sea

Tramping: 3.5 km

James & Julie’s (airbnb, $47)

• Topo
• GPS

The only problem with sleeping in the tent – especially so close to the sea – was the dew fall. The whole tent was soaking wet inside and out by morning, and I had pitched it in the shadow of the amenities block from the point of view of the morning sun.

After possibly the last breakfast of tramping/kayaking diet I set about drying things out. In the end I chose the clothes line that runs on the road side of the camp, and within half an hour or so the tent (both internal and external) was dry. The stuff I had washed two days ago was still having difficulty drying but in the course of time was dry enough.

One Australian couple here from near Newcastle was thrilled to bits with the campsite in their small Jucy camper. For me it was just very basic and very empty. The guy used to be a geologist and was so impressed by the geology of the South Island that they only had three days for the North. I had dropped the mouse last night in the kitchen and lost the battery compartment cover; couldn’t find it anywhere at all (even under the fridges).

With most of the moisture removed it was back into Levin for some shaving stuff from the supermarket, a quick check of the internet, then a stop to pick up some cash and buy some petrol. Managed to redeem one of the 4c vouchers. Levin was not bad for petrol prices but they started creeping up again as I continued further south. One further stop was in Otaki itself for a steak, ham & cheese pie for $3.7, then it was down the Forks Road (partly unsealed) to the picnic spot for lunch and then a walk around the Arcus Loop with some nice views along the way which were photographed.

Then I made a try for Waikanae, first finding Don & Sally’s place right off the bat, then went to the library for further directions to James & Julie’s. Damned GoogleEarth often just gives you a random sample of street names when giving directions so that the neuralgic turn is into a street that GE thinks is called by its extension further along the way. Couldn’t find Queen St so overshot the mark (Weggery Drive is what I should have turned into, but that didn’t exist for GE), drove back, turned into GE’s unnamed street and there it was. Was fairly soon at the place & James had not yet left for work so he was able to give me a key and other instructions.

I was considering putting out a call for someone to show me around Wellington tomorrow but I think I will delay my arrival at the next place until late afternoon. Here I had to get a bit of a beard trim and then a shave, and try to work out what failed last night during the ATMing and thumbnailing (did power reach a minimum?). Anyhow, now the program seems to be working.

Next steps will be showering and final preparations for the talks before heading off to Don & Sally’s. So warm here today it’s a pity that there was no time for a walk along the beach or a swim. Also looks like photographing the moonset is going to be a little difficult.

Dinner at Don & Sally’s was roast chicken with beans, pumpkin & roast potato, followed by an apple pie with yoghurt and passion fruit topping, and the wine was from Black River (dry white). Sally’s brother Steven Gentry has written a book on Raoul & the Kermadecs which was the focus of the evening’s discussion.

James & Julie returned very late, after which there were one or two slide shows and we all got to bed very late indeed.