Rakia

The car is a real bitch and very sensitive... The sliding doors only close with a lot of momentum and if I don't give enough gas in 1st or 2nd gear, it dies straight away. This has happened to me more often now - in the middle of a roundabout or when turning 🙄. I can drive a car and it's not bad at all, but this one makes it really difficult for me. The engine control light has also been on since yesterday - great. So I have to call technical support first, they told me that I can continue driving and that they will take a look at it when the car is back. All right!

I've now decided that I don't want to be that far away from Christchurch when the car is swapped. This is both a curse and a blessing. On the one hand, it's good for me to do a few days less and process what I've experienced so far, but on the other hand, I have so many plans and I'm slowed down...

Today we go down from the Banks Peninsula to the lowlands, to Rakaia. A small town on a wide river with a view of the Alps. Driving uphill was strenuous for the camper, but going downhill was extremely strenuous for me. The brake hangs so high that I have to keep my right leg in the air the whole time I'm driving downhill to brake. I say, driving a car is really hard work.

After I've left the mountains behind me, driving becomes more relaxed and easier and after 2 hours of driving I'm already there, off to the campsite, the car is plugged in and I can recharge all the batteries. The campsite is quiet (there are not that many campers) and clean. There are also washing machines, so I take advantage of the early hours of the day and wash my laundry, which can then dry right here in the sun. Today I'm having a "housekeeping day" because I can also sweep through the camper 😉.

I stay here for 2 days and use the time to read, crochet and go on trips to the river and to the nice little town.