we get an early start…again, military precision and timing in tearing down the camp - good job Team Poutine!!……breakfast at Soda is even better than the day before…we find a new GPS at the south end of town (something crushed the one that Jess brought) and we begin the drive south….about 60km north of Auckland the alternator packs it in and we are stranded on the Orewa off ramp. we haul out the chairs and wave to the friendly Kiwis that seem compelled to honk and wave at us….sorry, no autographs….it takes almost 4 hours but we get a new car and are back on the road…we are going to be hard pressed to make camp before the gates close but we press on….the new GPS leads us on and takes us through a shorter but impossible narrow gravel road which climbs up one side of a mountain then down the other….we arrive late (and drenched in a cold sweat) but have access to the camp site….another perfect tent setting…..we had no time to pick up supplies and could not find an open restaurant - tonight we dine on peanut butter sandwiches….surprisingly good with the gherkins and avocados that we have left….the beach is incredible but it is too late to swim…..the wind is strong and we are not comfortable with the thought of driving over the mountain to get food then driving back to the camp site - the road is really not safe….the winds of Mordor Customs are strong and the lure of the permanent Canadian address is drawing us closer and closer…we come dangerously close to wishing we were back home but then we drink a glass of New Zealand wine…the winds subside and the winds of Mordor Customs fade into the distance….sleep will be uneasy tonight….tomorrow a new plan must be made…
despite the very crappy luck, the scenery still looks pretty good and worth photographing...
the destination is just around the corner and "over the mountain by gravel road"....of course I look like a tourist!......
a couple of overgrown asparagus I'm thinking??
the calm before the storm.....
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