1st December I had a fairly random breakfast of a boiled egg, weet-bix and half a sausage which do could find room for last night. I get myself sorted fairly quickly this morning and park up at the cafe, grab a coffee, and read my book until 1o when the museum opens. I find myself putting the world to rights with the chap who chats to me I the museum, I have been doing a lot of that, putting the world to rights. Decisions, decisions, where shall I go? I consulted with the trusty map, abd decide upon Kawhia, it is on the coast, so there should be a campsite there. Whether you are in the northern or southern hemisphere some things do not change, the 1st December is the first official day of summer and ... read more

29th November I wake about 7 and open the van door and doze for another hour or so listening to the waves on the beach. I could get used to this. I decide on another night at site. I have tea and toast for breakfast, I top one slice with avocado and seeds and the other with honey. I realize that I am not going to able to finish the honey before I leave New Zealand, so someone at my final camp site will be very lucky to have an almost full jar of award winning honey. I drop a few seeds on the ground for the sparrows, they seem to enjoy them. I get myself dressed and do a bit of hand washing and walk to the office to book another night. I then spend ... read more

27th November Surprise surprise, it rained all night again. I retreated to the kitchen for breakfast. I used the 2nd rashesrof bacon and half a sausage from yesterday's breakfast to make sandwiches. Sorted my van, showered and dressed by 8.30. Ready to go but nowhere to go to. I leaf through the ever increasing stash of leaflets and settled on heading towards Whanganui with the intention of going to the local Information centre to find a walk. I see a sign for The Winter Gardens and Lake Victoria and pull in to the car park. As I soon as I get out of the van I am mobbed by about 30 ducks. I have coffee at the cafe then have a walk around both Lake Victoria and The Winter Gardens. I must say that the local ... read more

25th November I plan a walk around Pakowhai Regional Park near Napier today so I set sat nav, but the entrance is in the middle of a set of roadworks and has a no entry sign. So I need to find a plan B. While thinking of a plan B, i see a supermarket, so pull over for milk. I happen to park near a rose garden , so I have a walk around. Whilst walking it starts to drizzle. I get back to the van and have a rummage through the stack of leaflets and decide on Te Mata Park. Having learnt my lesson about timings of walks compared to food; I make myself for lunch before my walk. The place is busy with mountain bikes and a local orienteering group. It starts to rain ... read more

23rd November Getting good at sorting myself out in the morning, it’s them best way to avoid a hypo incident in a walk is to straight out for my walk after breakfast. Having looked at a map yesterday I decided to follow the river to the botanic gardens and go to the museum and have lunch on the way back. It is a flat walk following a cycle path, so pack my normal water, snacks and glucose tablets. Left the campsite just before 10. The first part if walk takes me along the sea from and past the docks, where they are manoeuvring another timber laden ship out of the harbour. I think they load one shop with every tide. No need to use the railway line to cross the river today the river is the ... read more