…and it’s raining hard. During the night a thunderstorm has drawn up and it’s pouring down. I have breakfast in the tent around 9.00 and pack my things, finally getting on the road at 11.00 when the rain lets up.
About 5 minutes after I’m on the road it stops completely and my way to Haast is fairly easy along the river. The rain has created a myriad of waterfalls along the road and the river is now filling the whole valley. Some short showers continue.
In Haast I buy some fish and meager looking chips (the thin type made from mash). As I step into the parking lot, the chips promptly slip and fall to the ground. 30 seconds later a flock of seagulls (not the band) have descended and gobbled up everything. I still enjoy the fish and get real chips made from whole potatoes at the local store / cafe around the corner.
Around 15.00 I continue on northwards. My first stop is Ship Creek, where I take a break before climbing the steep road towards Knight’s Point. Some beautiful views on the coast here.
Shortly after, it starts raining continuously. Two hours before I reach Lake Paringa, my final campground, that’s slightly annoying.
Sadly, all accommodation on the way is fully booked.
However, I get a sheltered spot where I can pitch my tent despite the now quite heavy rain. As I do this, a man from the next campervan comes by and handa me a beer, saying: ‘I had one left and you look like you could use one’. A heartwarming gesture on New Year’s eve.
As I sit in my tent, cooking my gourmet noodles with carrots and Barker’s sundried tomato chutney, I reflect that sometimes all you need to be happy is a dry, warm place and something to eat. The beer doesn’t really improve things but it’s just a Tui, Indian pale ale, at 3% vol.
