We had a late night arrival at the campsite, I stayed awake for a few hours, it was well past midnight before I could convince myself to go to sleep. Three of us in Cuzzie is always very cozy, Nat got the floor space on a seating cushion with Trish and I in our normal possies. It did not matter the late hour that I fell to sleep I still awoke and started connecting with the outside world via the net and mobile bright and early. The support crew rested and returned to sleep while I sat quietly, stayed in my sleeping bag and just day dreamed. It was good for the team to sleep but soon Nat was awake and so was Trish. We raced off to the showers before the massive campervan city awoke and engulfed the showers, in this campsite it felt like there were hundreds of white vans, this was a popular location. After this we went for a breakfast in town, download from Trish to Nat and then we got Trish to the airport. I waved her good bye, wished her all the best until we see her again. She is back to muggy Auckland, off with the woollen leggings and the footwear of choice, Crocs.

We were then off to go horse riding, this may keep me entertained and mind of my water world for a while. We got saddled up and on our way, Peel Forest Horse Trekking, they were great and we had fun. Nat was on a horse called Foxy and mine was called Mack. They had done this trek many times and knew it with their eyes closed so it was not a hard or tough ride. It was however a great change from anything either of us had done in a very long time. The last time I was riding was on the family farm, riding a lot of the time bare back. Today we even managed to get a trot going for a moment or two until the horses just said, nope, I ain't doing this anymore. We went along the river and then into the forest, past fields of farmed deer and I was just amazed at the forest and the trees as we wandered along, it was a nice way to spend a couple of hours.

Tonight we are tucked in the Ashburton campsite and tomorrow we are on another adventure, far more to Nat and my line of fun, Canyoning! Watch this space, Nat has the Action Cams ready for this next adventure, maybe my waves and sea water will seem calm, like a lake after tomorrow.

The things I am experiencing are so varied and great, and it is very cool that I am able to do all of theses wacky other adventures on my lay days, it keeps me busy and stops me just tormenting myself. At the campsite tonight there are large numbers of ducks on the lake and many ducks and geese, even a cool mum and ducklings that came to see us both while we sat outside, so tame and friendly it is unbelievable, a little slice of paradise.

So it is true I did smile today:
Nat is back... that is a smile.
Receiving a really cool email from a wonderful straight talking mentor, the blunt talking and supportive nature of it always returns a smile to my face. Total respect sent your way.
Rekindling new skills, like riding a horse.
Steak and roasted kumera for dinner, damn good food.
Being able to sit outside on a rug and not be cold and wet, thanks Mother Nature, albeit we are miles away from the ocean.
Ducklings, they are so cute!

My thoughts:
Today has been a nice day, I am happy inside as well as on the outside.

From Red & Nat, AKA the redznzjourney team.