Having got carried away the day before, we only had 10km to go until we reached the Bunkhouse in Whakahoro.
We started early so as to avoid any abrupt confrontation in the local hall should there be any Sunday morning meetings or such things- we swept the floors before leaving and made sure all was spick and span and how we found it. At least if we left it reasonably tidy it would make us feel slightly less guilty for having climbed through the window in the first place. (Slight guilty conscience but was best nights sleep I've had in a while so have made special allowance for ones misbehaviour).
We put on wet shoes, although that has become the normal thing now they have such big holes in the front, and walked for just under two hours into the small village of Whakahoro. Luke walked in Olli's sandals because his shoes have literally fallen into pieces now.
Whakahoro is a tiny little village mostly consisting of a few lodges and a cafe on the Blue Duck Station (station meaning basically 'big farm.' The Whanganuii river runs right beside it so we can see where we jump on the boats in the morning.
When we got here, we located the cafe and flagged down the canoe guy. We managed to bargain with him and arrange for a beer/wine drop off when he brings our boats tomorrow so it was good we arrived when we did.
The hut itself is a ten bed bunkhouse with outside toilets - nothing flashy but fits our needs just so. We headed up to the cafe for a nice pot of tea and a chat before coming back to the bunks, listening to music, catching up on our diary entries, and having an hours kip. When I woke up, Olli was sleeping off the ten left over muesli bars he'd eaten, Luke was wondering around talking to everyone he could to ail his boredom and Renee was checking maps like the rest of us probably should have been! It was a good afternoons rest that's for sure.
We went back up to the cafe at five for another cup of tea and waited around until dinner - the yummiest sheppards pie with salad and apple crumble for dessert. We must have looked hungry because the owner invited us up for seconds to finish what was left in the pan so we had another plate just as big as the first to finish us off.
Once we'd managed to pluck our heavier selves from our chairs, we went for a little walk over Lacey's bridge and to the landing on the river - I think probably to burn off some of the food we ate since we'd done so little during the day!
We came back to the bunkhouse and had hot chocolate and played charades outside. (The charades you get on your phone when you have to hold the phone on your forehead and nod when you get the answer right). It was hilarious - first Olli rugby tackled me to the floor, then I did some ridiculous face as a Hippo impression that didn't look like a hippo at all. Luke couldn't help but shout the answers when they came up on the screen and Renee just went nuts every time a new word came up. All in all, we had another good night at camp - am quite enjoying Olli and Renee's company.
Tomorrow we get on the canoes and if Luke and I survive that, we can survive anything so here goes!
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