Rainforest

Day 30

I wanted to start this entry with a wise sentence that came to my mind a few days ago. But no matter how long I think about it, I just forgot it. It must not have been that wise after all.

The work is done and today we received the last payment. So the matter is settled for us.

After the last day of work on Saturday, we sat in our camping chairs with cookies and chips, toasting to never having to see another kiwi plant again. It was raining and cold, but at that time we didn't mind at all. On Sunday, we left, finally leaving the Bay of Plenty, heading east to Opotiki, where we stayed overnight and cooked a delicious dinner on our two gas stoves overlooking the waves. The following days were similar, meaning we slept in, leisurely drove to our next destination, looked around, cooked (or heated canned food), and stayed overnight at a self-contained site. It's now Friday and we are at a paid campground near Napier. Paid means we have warm showers, electricity, a kitchen, and laundry facilities here. It's 4:37 PM and we are the only guests. No one to the left or right of our van, no one in the kitchens and bathrooms, and the sea in front of us. It couldn't be better. Plus, it's the first time in 6 days that we don't have rain. That's actually the best part because I think everyone can imagine how exhausting and difficult it is to change clothes, make the bed, and cook in the cold rain in the evening. Disgusting. Linus and I have a feeling that the clouds are following us on our journey towards Wellington. Well, at least this time we were one day faster, hopefully it won't be just this one day. It's only 15 degrees Celsius and I'm sitting on the beach with a jacket, but the sky is blue and cloudless, and that's what matters. That's the most important thing.

Today is November 2nd, or May 2nd, because while autumn is slowly replacing winter in Germany, summer is starting for us. This is also the peak season in New Zealand. So the fact that it's still relatively cool and we are the only campers staying at an empty beach is due to the fact that it's still spring. The days are getting longer now, the sun is showing up more often, and the beach is getting busier. What will hopefully decrease is the rain.

Yesterday, we drove to Te Urewera National Park, which is a rainforest with beautiful nature south of Whakatane and north of Wairoa. Our solid plan was to hike for several hours in this jungle, where there are only drivable roads in the southern third, and where a Maori tribe still lives far from civilization today, and spend a night there, and then explore another part of the huge forest area by hiking the next day. So we set off. The phone says there are still 76 km to go. Shortly before arrival, we are on a gravel road with palms and shrubs on both sides, and it starts raining. Nothing new at this point since it has been raining for 5 days already. So we continue on our search for a small campground at the beginning of the national park. However, as we arrive at the site located directly by the lake, the rain gets stronger and we stay in the car and curse. Without network, drinking water, and perspective, we sit in the car, look out of the window aimlessly, and realize that we might miss experiencing the nature of perhaps the most diverse and impressive spot on the North Island. We look out of the window and see that we see nothing. The sky is gray, the visibility is only about 10 meters. We sit for an hour, wait and realize that we can't stay overnight at this place by the lake, which now only consists of wet mud and has nothing more than a small toilet. However, going back 76 km and having come here for nothing is not an option. Checking out this place another time is also not possible due to our tight schedule.

So we came up with the idea of driving 10 km further, where the "Great Walk" begins, and hiking in the rain to at least say that we did it, and then driving back and camping in Wairoa. From frustration, excitement arose and the plan seemed ingenious. Still rain, but somehow still doing it, so that later we would have a cool story to tell, in which the two boys from Lübeck, now (understandably) absolutely alone in this area, hiked somewhere in the middle of nowhere in New Zealand in heavy rain. Like in a bad American movie, we stumble through the thicket of the forest with our red and white striped umbrella and a bag of M&M's. After the ascent, and 45 minutes later, we stand at a point where there would probably have been a beautiful view of the lake if it hadn't been raining. At least we only saw gray. A few colorful plants on both sides of the path and a steep path heading upwards. So we trudged back, completely soaked, sat in the car, and ate chocolate. One couldn't really perceive the nature because we mainly looked down to see that we didn't step into puddles. So instead of taking in a UNESCO World Heritage-worthy landscape, we took away wet shoes and a bit of a sore throat.

What we may have gained on this day, however, is a lot of experience. And I must say, driving through the uncivilized rainforest in the rain with the car also has its charm. You just have to set different goals. It might have been totally overcrowded if it hadn't rained, or we might have gotten lost because we would have gone further out of awe. In any case, we now know how wonderful it is to have a warm car and spare clothes.

And we can say that we hiked a part of the "Great Walks" in Te Urewera National Park. You don't really want anything more.

Still, of course, we hope that the days will become drier and warmer, and that April will give way to May not only on the calendar but also climatically. The Hawke's Bay, where we currently are, is known for its Mediterranean, Mediterranean-like climate and stunning beaches.

Two weeks ago, we already went swimming in the Pacific, and Linus does that even at 14 degrees Celsius, but a bit more summer feeling would still be nice. But like I said, "April" is just over and we are here for a while.

Tomorrow, we will go to Napier first, a colorful city in the art deco style of the 1930s. There are nice little cafes and many trendy bars there. If you want to look further ahead, I can say that our next destination will be Wellington, from where we will cross to the South Island in mid-November/May. But for now, we are still on the North Island, and even though we are already mentally a bit in the south and occasionally peek at maps to see what's down there, there is still a lot to experience here.

A pheasant walks alongside me and a nightly shadow is slowly spreading around me. The sky is still blue. I will go back to the van soon and then we will cook something. After that, we will end the evening, take a hot shower, and sleep. Tomorrow, we'll get up early and head to Napier, on our way south.