Last night, we drove back to Kohaihai Bluff from Nelson. Five hours later we arrived. Sadly, I could not only hear the waves but I could actually feel them pounding onto the beach. We both went to bed with heavy hearts, hoping it would calm down. We were up early, way before daylight, got dressed and sat in the dark until we could see the sun starting to rise. Down onto the beach we walked, to the sound of the thundering sea. We stopped, we looked, we watched and we counted the wave sets. Then we looked at each other and said “Nope!”

Turning our backs to it, we kept on walking, but after an hour on the beach, I knew it was a no go. I have also been in contact with a fisherman further up the coast, who confirmed it was not that great. Back at Cuzzie, I closed the curtains and went back to sleep. Bugger it! I’d been and looked for myself and both my stomach and my mind now had confirmation that it was truly shit. The sun was shining and the wind was okay, but the swell and the waves both told me it was a no go.

Later in the morning we spent more time down on the beach, looking again, this time at different times and at different stages of the tide. High tide, then low tide, but neither looked any better. Then we struck some luck at lunchtime today. It looks like I may have a fisherman’s boat on which to sleep at night, halfway up the coastline, I just have to get there, that’s all! We have planned and schemed and think maybe either tomorrow or Saturday. But I’m not holding my breath. Now I’m going with the flow and will just wait and see how the day pans out.

Tonight, we are sitting in a local pub by a big wooden fire and I am relatively calm. We had a good day on the beach, finding new driftwood huts and new carved driftwood sculptures on this amazing but ruthless coastline. Go the West Coast, you are really testing me! But let's just wait and see what tomorrow throws at me. Tonight for dinner it’s sausages from the local butcher and onions and chips (and a shandy in the pub). It’s cold in our world tonight with clear skies and an amazing sunset (sorry, no pictures). If I make it that far tomorrow, I’ll take a picture of me on the fishing boat.

My smiles today:
A decision easily made. Or, rather, a decision made easily for me.
Being back at the beach on the West Coast.
Meeting the locals, always fun.
The fisherman. You are the best!
Sausages, onions and chips. (Yum!)

My thoughts today:
Listen to that inner self. Don't ever doubt it, just do what you feel is right.
Take a step back, take another look and maybe, just maybe, go back and do it again. But do it better next time.

Goodnight from Red. Ma Te Wa.