It’s not all that easy to start another week without wishing that I was paddling. Sorry if I seem to harp on about it, perhaps one day I’ll manage to find the right words to describe the daily torture through which I put myself and anyone else close enough who happens to be awake! I quite simply don’t seem to have the ability to read the weather forecast, good or bad, and then accept it for what it is. Today, at 5am, although the weather forecast could be worse, it’s still well over the limits and boundaries set out for this section of coastline. Back into my sleeping bag I crawl and start sending a few explicit text messages to whoever I think may be up and about before I try to get back to sleep.

There’s also a new look to my hand this morning, the bruise I gave myself yesterday having spread completely across the top of my hand, as far as the top of my knuckles. There is one positive thing however, at least the crazy swelling has gone down. Well, nearly. When I wriggle my fingers, there’s no longer any pain, so I‘m presuming there’s nothing much to be concerned about.

The question I ask myself is: “What can I do to keep my mind off the lovely ocean on this side of Cape Egmont?” The answer doesn’t come easily! Firstly we have breakfast, then a couple of coffees, and afterwards we take a walk into town to locate a second-hand book shop for Anna and myself. It was a pleasant enough walk along the coastal walkway, dodging numerous dog walkers, motorised mobility scooters and what have you. Having located the second-hand bookshop, we browse for a while, buying a couple of books apiece at a bargain price. Then we head off to get some other important jobs done. To grab some food, to fill Cuzzie with diesel, and to refill both the water tank and our gas bottles. A quick snack for lunch, then it’s off to the information centre to catch up on some wi-fi stuff and charge up electrical equipment.

It was good to sit in the entrance to the museum and get some more things done that have been on my "to-do list” and now they are all more or less done. As we sat there, I muttered something about not being active enough. Anna turned and said “You are a busy-body!” To begin with, I was a little bit taken aback by her comment, but then I realised that her American definition was totally different to what the NZ meaning of a “busy-body” is! We live and learn something every day.

On our return to the car park we found a small piece of paper pushed under the windscreen wipers. When we realised it was a parking ticket, we were gutted. Only fifteen minutes over what we had paid for and a $12 parking fine (ouch!)! We headed off, out of the city, to go for a bit of a hike. Our first location was not quite as we expected so instead, we started to climb the Paritutu Rock. It was a fast, steep, stair-hike, followed by a lot of clambering up the side of rocks, but it was worth every step. Wow, what a view from the top!! Then we had to clamber all the way down again, holding onto a chain and trying not to think too much about the possible damage we could do to ourselves if we slipped and fell. To be honest, I was was relieved to get off the rocks and back to the steep steps on this descent.

Then I needed to swim so while I headed off to study the black line on the bottom of the swimming pool and listen to water and bubbles, Anna put up her hammock among the trees and listened to her music. We met up again just on sunset, racing to get a final glimpse of Mount Taranaki, as the clouds had cleared. We also wanted to sit up high and look out at the West Coast sunset which never seems to disappoint. With the back doors of Cuzzie wide open, we had the best view tonight and cooked up a scrumptious one-pot dinner.

As usual, I rolled the weather, tried to wave a magic wand to change the look of the forecast, then frowned, then looked at it all over again, muttering more random, repetitive
comments. Anna has already learned that it is a waste of time even trying to comment! But tonight, in this truly beautiful location, is a lovely way to end what has otherwise been a mentally troubled day for me.

My smiles today:
Being called a "busy-body"!
Waves and being by the ever-changing ocean.
Swimming. Somehow it manages to clear my head.
Friends who have to deal with my raving and ranting.
Second-hand book stores.
Sunsets on the West Coast.
Dodging mobility scooters!
One-pot dinners, they rock.

My thoughts today:
When nothing goes right, go left!

Goodnight from Red and Anna. Ma Te Wa.