Day 19 - 14km for a burger

12/02/16

We start a bit later today because the weather forecast is not very promising. We have breakfast and are briefly entertained by a New Zealander who wants to convert his jeep into a self-sustaining camper. He wants to take a look at our Jucy camper:-)

After tidying up and storing our stuff, we continue towards East Cape. It's a somewhat lonely drive. Only a few vehicles pass by and houses are rare. The area is not densely inhabited. That's why we refuel at the upcoming gas station. We don't know exactly when the next one will come.

At noon, we pass by one that should exist according to the navigation system. But there's nothing left. Shops are also rare and there's no cellphone reception here.

We're getting a little hungry and keep an eye out for a restaurant or something similar in Te Araroa (the last village on the way to East Cape). Shortly afterwards, a car stops and the occupants ask us if we're looking for a place to eat. They give us a tip for the 'Returned and Service Association' or R.S.A., which was originally built for the military/veterans. We're the only ones there, but we trust our helpers. The host is friendly and takes our order. Soon after, two large burgers and a large plate of fries arrive:-) The burger is topped with beetroot, bacon, lettuce, and egg - delicious.

We continue driving and stop at the last possible official camping spot 7km before East Cape. We want to be the first in the world to see the first rays of the new day. At the campsite, we have the brilliant idea to explore the path to the cape by jogging. So we put on our running shoes and start running. The outbound trip with constant headwinds is cumbersome, but okay. Especially since only an hour has passed since breakfast. However, the return trip is dragging on, especially because the wind has died down - damn. Back at the campsite, we go straight into the still cold ocean. That feels good. Just as the rain starts, we're back in the Jucy camper. And the longer the evening lasts, the more our legs hurt, which is promising for tomorrow;-)

Photo of the day: