Day 38 Kaikoura

Sleep in and hang laundry out to dry, because yesterday evening was laundry day. Around noon, I walk to the I-site and get a map of the peninsula. I want to do the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway, which takes about three hours. So, it's about a good hour walk along the seaside to get to the starting point. It's only a ten minute drive by car, but not nearly as nice. In the meantime, the clouds have cleared and I have lathered up with SPF 50+ sunscreen. There are already some lazy fur seals lying on the shore. They're always so lazy 😉. Then I continue along the cliffs to the gannet nesting area. You can get very close to a nesting site here. The noise is deafening. At first, I don't even notice that two older gentlemen are standing in the midst of the gannets, wearing ear protection and a net. Studies are being conducted here. The scene has something oddly funny about it and could be from a Louis de Funès film. I continue along the shore to more seal and seagull colonies. Finally walking again after driving for so many hundreds of kilometers. The trail continues above the cliffs to South Bay. I then climb up to the top lookout. From there, you have a view of the entire bay and the snow-capped peaks directly behind it. I pick up the pace to be there in time for sunset. And right at that moment, the clouds break over the mountains. A magnificent sight that gives this place its mystical aura. Back at the camping site, it's already getting dark. I quickly cook, pack everything up, and go to bed. After all, I walked almost 12 km today. The alarm goes off at 6 o'clock.