23.12.19 Okahune - Waiting for the alternator

The mechanic arrived at 9am and said that the alternator is toast. After consulting with Wendekreisen (my rental company), it was decided to bring a replacement alternator from Auckland. That's about 300km and a 4.5-5 hour drive on local roads. I should bring the camper to the workshop at 3pm, and the courier would have the replacement part in Okahune. Since I expected to have some extra time anyway, I paid for another night at the campsite for $30. My camper has essentially received a lifesaving injection, so I should be able to drive the 500m to the workshop under my own power in the afternoon.

Then I set out on a little path in the most beautiful weather, which ultimately led me about 10km along a river and through the town. This allowed me to take pictures of beautiful flowers and the little river, and I was completely alone for 3/4 of the way.

Okahune has a cute old train station. A train stops here twice a week. It's more of a tourist train that continues to Wellington. I pass by here on my walk and am amazed that I'm at an elevation of about 700m. At the station, I get a free coffee with a scarf I buy and enjoy the sun before walking about 3km back to the workshop.

Back in the village of Ohakune, I quickly bought some groceries (my favorite yogurt in a 160g container for $3.89, homemade potato salad for Christmas for $16 😱), and then rolled to the workshop with my last ounce of energy.

While waiting for the replacement part to arrive, I sit in the sun on a bench next to the workshop and read.

Eventually, I see my car on the lift and think: "Oh cool, the part must be here." But at 5:15pm, the mechanic stands next to me and says he has now removed the passenger seat and the battery, but the part still hasn't arrived.

There may have been some accidents on the way from Auckland, and it turns out that the courier only left Auckland at 12pm. So it was impossible to be in Okahune by 3pm. Unfortunately, neither the workshop nor I was informed about this 🙄. Now the courier is expected to arrive any moment... The mechanic, with incredible patience, says he will wait until the courier arrives and will install the part if there's still time. But when it's already 6:30pm and the courier still hasn't arrived, I have to find a place to stay overnight because I can't sleep on the lift in the camper. Since the mechanic, Colin, has removed everything like the battery, it's also not possible to stay overnight in front of the workshop because the car doesn't move anymore.

Colin no longer expects to install it today. There's a simple hotel across the street, and the last room with a shower/toilet is mine for $90. I run back to the campground and thankfully get my $30 back that I already paid for the second night this morning. It's already 7pm! In Germany, that would be inconceivable. The mechanic had also said that if I can't find a hotel, I should come with him and his family; he has a 2-story house with plenty of space. The Kiwis are just so nice ❤️.

But for now, I'm lying on a wide bed with only rubbish on TV.

Tomorrow is a new day. And it's Christmas Eve. And I have no idea where I'll stay. The other two Christmases I spent in New Zealand were always at particularly beautiful places. And I had reserved them in advance because from December 25th, the holiday wave rolls in here. Every day is a gift. On this day, I met very nice Kiwis, took a dreamy walk, and got some color.