Dodge the rain

Walking between the raindrops

As per usual it started to rain at approximately 6 in the morning. I thought it was only going to be the nuisance rain that forces me to pack the tent wet, but this time it was not. The weather has obviously changed and the autumn is shoehorning its way in despite the best effort of summer that tries to draw the last few gasps.

How could a place like this ever have any vacancies?
How could a place like this ever have any vacancies?

It was still raining at 7:00 and I decided that I had to take the first opportunity to decamp as I was not sure what to expect from today stage in terms of average speed.

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As it turned out I completed the journey with plenty of time to spare which left me with lots of time to do all sort of things.

The route was not terribly exciting and apart from a coupe of good views it just flew by with little to look at. It was one of those days where the iPod was essential.

Autumn colours are finally catching up with me.
Autumn colours are finally catching up with me.

You know that there is not much going on when the memorable things of the day is to stop for a fry up at the junction between the SH10 and SH11, or buy a V energy drink in Waipapa or do the food shopping in Kaeo.

To be honest there was an exciting moment on route. It is quite embarassing but only now that I have lost some weight I can get properly low down on the handlebar and still pedal. Anyways this newly acquired capability allowed me to push a bit on the mammoth down wall you can see in the graph and to reach the dazzling speed of 49.8 MpH. I was not wearing the helmet so I must add, for all the kids reading out there, go on, do it at home, what’s the worst that can happen.

The view of the day
The view of the day
With some sailors in the bay
With some sailors in the bay

I got to the campsite at around 14:00 and after I set camp up I went for a swim in the sea. The camp site owner must have thought I was crazy as it was just about to start raining. I suppose he would have no idea of the coating that living in the UK for 25 years has given me to rain.

After that it was just the case of doing a bit of laundry and after a very nice shower I just decamped to the kitchen where a whole bunch of people from the local Frontera centre were having a sort of away week end.

An interesting rock formation
An interesting rock formation
And from the reverse angle once I got past the two rain showers.
And from the reverse angle once I got past the two rain showers.

Not sure How long I’m going to hang on in here but the food they are cooking looks enticing so might just hang around and see if they take pity of the vagabond.

It's the end of the season and I think they are not expecting many more like me.
It’s the end of the season and I think they are not expecting many more like me.