Kaikora 2, Kekerengu, Blenheim.

Sunday, after golf at Culverden we continued on the Inland Road to Kaikoura the scenery changing somewhat as we climbed higher into the rounded, lumpy hills. 

Lumpy hills, level road fortunately!

Very picturesque until we became surrounded by low cloud, fog and drizzle with the temperature dropping rapidly, not helped by me leaving one of the unscreened windows wide open. There had been a trail bike event on, seemingly organised by the Waiau School, and so  initially there vast numbers of vehicles approaching with trail bikes on their trailers, making a normally very quiet road seem busy.

In Kaikoura we parked, once again, at the NZMCA Park in South Bay, but with a difference in the night this time, being disturbed at 4.00am by 2 horseboxes coming in with 7 horses between them. They unloaded the horses into the pens right next to the motorhomes, fed and watered them and then reloaded them about 2 hours later, something we haven't experienced there before. 

Very popular south car park. 

So not much shut-eye for us light sleepers. I think there was a big race meeting on at Trentham on Saturday which would exlain why that happened as well as why there were so many horse floats on the road between Kaikoura and Blenheim the next day.

Fan powered paragliders - frightening the fish!

My fishing assistant reading!

... while I'm soooooo busy!

Monday was a lovely sunny day again and after picking up Len's repeat prescription from the chemist and sharing some blue cod and chips for lunch Len enjoyed watching the tip of his surfcasting rod for a couple of hours on the beach - no luck unfortunately.

Back into Marlborough wine country. 

Then it was on to the Kekerengu Store where we stayed on the way down for $10 a night.They have a lovely long area to park between the road, railway line and beach and have nearly developed it all into proper sites. They are intending to put toilets in as well. This time we knew exactly where we wanted to be, right down the far end amongst the trees and on the water's edge. We passed quite a lot of vehicles on our way but we were lucky and "our space" was still free. Love listening to the sea at night although, even for us, it was on the almost too loud scale this time.

During the night our gas bottle needed swapping over but for the first time ever we found we had somehow forgotten to refill the last empty one. Quelle Doleur!
No gas on the fridge and no gas for the morning cuppa! So after early-for-us breakfast, it was on the road again to get both gas bottles refilled in Blenheim which incidentally happens to be by far the most expensive gas refill place we have come across.

Our COF (like WOF) was due that day so after the gas refill we found VTNZ and the bus was put through all the checks. All good apart from the passenger seatbelt. Now this is the weirdest thing: because of the age of the bus the passenger seat doesn't have to have a seatbelt but if it does have one it has to be certified. We have a lap belt which is what was in the bus when we bought it. No problems in the past but in November the rules changed - whatever belt is in has to be certified and that likely would have to be a 3 point one fitted, although "possibly" ours could be okay. However ours would still pass with NO belt so we had to unbolt our belt to get the COF!! The law's an ass - since when is no belt at all better than a lap belt?!

We parked up at the Riverlea Racecourse for the night - lots of vans there, maybe about 30. Initially we chose a nice spot under the trees but soon realised it was not the best place when the acorns started dropping onto the roof! The open space in front of the grandstand was a wiser choice. I managed to get the washing done and out on the communal line with it being dry before dinner. 

Before dinner  Mr Whippies (with flakes)!

After dinner we had a circular walk along the little river and back through the town.

Stitch in time.... for morning tea!

The next morning it was great to catch up with Stitch, an old Physio classmate, and her sister Carolyn when they came to have a coffee with us in the bus before we set off for White's Bay.