Heading into the wind had the tail wagging the dog somewhat as the caravan bucked and yawedcausing the van to dance a bit. I used both lanes of the bridge at Waipara as the wind howling down the riverbed pushed us sideways. Fortunately no one was coming the other way right then.
Between Parnassus and Kaikoura the road climbs through hills. The hills and the bends don't bother me but the road surface is an absolute rodeo ride. It should be a national disgrace that they call this State Highway 1. Yes, the terrain is difficult but we are a first world country and capable of engineering a better road surface than that one. The word diabolical comes to mind.
Only one mug got thrown from a cupboard and broken.
Once out of the hills my little rig wallowed along the flat road of the Kaikoura Coast - wallow is the only word I can think of to describe the motion as we crested wave after wave on the carriageway.
The day was a scorcher and several times I contemplated calling it quits for the day - particularly when I saw someone swimming in a very refreshing looking lagoon at Peketa. However the wee van dragged us into Blenheim and I had a satisfactory night in a very pretty camping ground by a river where it passes under the SH1 bridge. Visually appealing, and clearly home to quite a few permanent caravans (judging from the well tended and productive veg gardens by each), the site suffered from the noise and light pollution of being so close to the highway but that reduced after 10pm.
Today is intermittent bright sun
and showers. I think I'm ready to start tackling the job of clearly gorse, bracken and blackberry from around where I have parked the caravan.
Next priority is to build my small shed cum outhouse (which will become home to a composting toilet....)
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