Company in the Catlins.
16 September 2019 | Papatowai, NZ
Maggie
From my journal:
"How is it possible there is any rain left to pour down after the torrential rains and winds that fell down and blew about us last night, I wonder? The perfect excuse to remain tucked up in bed this morning since I feel snotty and not 100%".
That was after our first day n the Catlins, a large scenic reserve on the east coast of the South Island way down south.
We stopped to visit the Nugget Lighthouse at Kaka Point first and enjoyed our walk out to the point and the beautiful view, grateful for a sunny break in the weather.
Next we visited Jacks Bay and the blowhole that is an amazing phenomenon. Nev opted for a nap over the 40 minute walk so I headed out alone, the wind howling and almost convincing me to turn back.
I'm glad I didn't because the walk was challenging and refreshing and the blowhole like none I’ve ever seen before:
it measures 55m deep, 144 m long and 68m wide, and flows through a tunnel from the ocean some 200m inland!
The power of the ocean and nature never fail to amaze me!
When we got to our campground in Papatowai at around 4:30pm we had just enough time to set up JURNEE before the rain returned in full force.
We had fun all the same:
for some uncanny reason I had bought extra supplies for dinner and we ended up inviting our young neighbors (sleeping in the back of their car in the freezing cold!) over to share the lamb curry I'd prepared.
JURNEE was filled to the brim with warmth and yummy smells and happy smiles and chatter of travels and dreams for more...
such fun!