Te Araroa (day 40) - Davies Bay Campsite to Pelorus Bridge Campground / mile 1135

Rainy, windy day, luckily trail wasn't running high so it wasn't an issue.

In the morning I tried to find a moment when the rain would die down so I could wrap everything up, I kind of did but most of things got damp anyway. It didn't stop all the way to Havelock.

Once here, I've topped up the food in "4Square" I needed around 5 days worth in the backpack, bough an additional salami and cheese as the next town St Arnaud had an expensive shop, up to a point where most of hikers would sent a resupply box there. I was banking on using food they left behind, as usually with resupply boxes people would mail more than they needed and did not want to carry the excess.

While I was sorting the food, I got approached by Jo and Ella. Two students from Wellington, they've been en route to a techno festival on the South Island and once there, they were planning to get stoned on various drugs. I think Jo was already high on something as he kept on asking me bizarre questions, like: "Have you met many horrible people?", "Do you feel enlightened?' or "Are all the French people douchebags?".⁰ I was trying to answer best I could. Other than being cheeky git, he was a resonably funny, intoxicated young person. Ella was trying to moderate the conversation best she could, but she gave up once Jo try to explain to me what the expression "Two in the pink, one in the stink" meant. After a while they drove off to Nelson to meet their friends.

My next stop was Rays Place, where I had a cappuccino and a an egg, bacon and tomato sandwich. It was still raining but I decided to push on to Pelorus Bridge Campground.

Trail was going along the road and then turned into a farmland, it was full of cows poop and quite damp after the whole day of wet weather so I came out on the other side soaked from waist down. I've reached the campground just in time to have a second (sic!) coffee and a brownie, sold from the van that's been recently set up here. It felt quite special to have a drink in this remote location.

Campground had no wifi access or power outlets but the nice lady at the office took my phone in to charge it for two hours. Nights stay cost 20$ and it included a camping spot, a shower and kitchen facilities. Place was full of families with children roaming and having fun despite the weather.

I met few other TA hikers here, Gregory from Australia who got slowed down by a week as he had to wait for his shoes to be delivered to Havelock and a couple of Americans who just hitched down from Nelson where they've picked up a delivery as well. They've been on the similar time schedule to mine, so I was expecting to see them again.

Kids reached their maximum sound level, then it suddenly got quiet. Rain has finally stopped. I could hear the river flowing, parents wispering last minute plans for tomorrow and mice roaming around the campground.