Relaxing in Akaroa

Hello hello! I'm just waiting for the kettle to boil for dinner (we're having instant noodles tonight, nice and easy), and so I figured I would write a quick blog-update as we have internet today. We're freedom camping, tucked into the side of a very small, windy road leading up from Akaroa, on the banks peninsula. There's a sign about 10 metres away from our van reading 'windy, narrow road, not suitable for campers or towing'...there was a sign at the beginning of the road saying that too, so we're proud of our little tank engine for creaking and groaning up the road to this point. We figured the second sign may actually mean that we couldn't make it, and low and behold, there was a nice flat spot in the corner for us to tuck into for the night. Our spot looks back onto Akaroa and the inlet - it's beautiful. It's gavin's favourite campsite so far.

We've had a lazy day today - it was rainy this morning, so we decided to not brave the outdoors (we had planned to kayak and attempt to see dolphins in the inlet...now we're doing that tomorrow), we spent the morning inside the camper, cosy in bed, watching the Wire (Steve, I blame you, we're addicted). At about noon, we drove down to Akaroa, and I found a cute little cafe, had a latte, read a bit and bought a magazine to fill myself in on the oscar dresses. Gavin hung out in the van working on some solar stuff. In the afternoon it cleared up, so we went for a bit of a drive to find a campspot, Gavin went for a brief (but butt-kicking) bike ride, and I did some yoga overlooking the bay.

Tomorrow we head for our kayak, then late afternoon once we're kayaked out we'll continue our travels towards Mt. Cook, hang out there for a night and get a hike in, then head towards Wanaka on our way to Fiordland National park for some multi-day hiking and kayaking trips...I'm quite excited!

Alright, water's boiled so time for dinner!

Huge hugs,

a