The morning air was threatening, and my quick dash for tea confirmed the presence of heavy thunder clouds over Abel Tasman to the north and grey walls of rain squalling across the bay. We had just finished loading up as the first shower hit and we cruised smuggly out of Pohara heading to the metropolis which was Takaka. We had a lovely FaceTime catch up with the Brock Hall bunch, and spent most of our time explaining that the thunderous rain storm hammering on th...

Waking to torrential rain was not in the plan. An annoyingly enthusiastic and damp Jono banging on the Enema's window at 715 was even less welcome, especially as he had his running kit on... I wheezed my way up the chest hammering route I'd discovered just 16 hours previously, trying to make it look easy but Jono evidently had a point to prove as we both tumbled into the clearing on the ridge with our hearts pounding. After an extended 'stretching session' we cra...

The new air bed does everything an air bed should do, most importantly remaining inflated over night! After I'd finished being smug, Jono emerged and carried me through an intense round of Free-letics on the fragrant grass, followed by a well earned dip in the babbling stream which bordered Jono's tent. Our breakfast selection now included Greek yoghurt and muesli but the air bed was soon deflated and the rear gunners seat in place, ready for a day touring the lo...

The puncture repair held good until about 5am when an over-exuberant bout of snoring evidently dislodged the patch and commenced our steady descent towards the plywood floor. Before I could sneak away for my morning run Bob requested an interim re-inflation as my absence had severely compromised her levels of comfort. The sound of me trying to surupticiously pump up the failing air bed caused a sudden eruption of laughter from Jono's tent and by the time Bob had ...

The Wellingtonian version of a c*** crowing was an enthusiastic team of street sweepers and the wind smashing the blinds against the window at 5am. Getting the vibes that I should probably take my garlic laden breath elsewhere I went for a jog along the harbour front and up to the botanic gardens where the floral scents were even more powerful in the dim morning light. Sweating profusely I collapsed back into the sparse room just as Bob's alarm was going off. The...