Back on the Odyssey with Banjo

Wednesday 3 December

So familiar - waking in our bed in Banjo on our first morning back south - but a whole heap colder than Auckland mornings!

I had an orthotic appointment in town (part of my ongoing knee issues) so we set off early. Louis had a swim, I got measured up for a funky knee brace, collected some heel inserts for my trainers & hiking shoes, dropped off some op shop donations, resisted a few amusing secondhand treats, bought myself a new T2 TeaMaker for $4 and stocked up on random past its sell by date stuff from SaveMore! I wanted to get the "disturbed" sign for Abby but was personally disturbed by the price - $8 for a joke present, twice the price of my teamaker!

Driving back to Kaiapoi, took a video call from my sister in London who was attending “Christmas at the Royal Albert Hall” with Tony Hadley (we love you madly!) and the CdP ladies - such fun! 🤩

Packed up then hitched up back at Treehouse Retreat, and hit the road, marvelling at the length of the grass under Banjo as we had been parked there for about a fortnight. We detoured to the Truck Wash in Harewood to give Banjo her quarterly bath… not sure what was wetter, us or the caravan!

From here we headed south to Ashburton for a quick shop and a leg stretch. Love the sign on the local school fence! Our right wing government hate inclusivity & diversity and have taken Te Reo (Māori language) & Māori culture out of the curriculum, but a majority of school have said yeah, NAH! From here the route was inland across the Canterbury Plains to Peel Forest DOC camp by the Rangitata River for a quiet night in nature. Great camp with lots of facilities, a helpful custodian and a chorus of birdsong.

Parked Banjo amongst the trees, took a stroll & a siesta, cooked dinner and generally chilled after the exhausting 12 days in Auckland. When we came back in April, we met the guy who was spray painting this mural on the Facilities Block at Peel Forest - looks awesome now it’s complete!

Reports from the ward were that Helen was improving more & more - she even took a wheelchair trip with Hannah, out of the ward in search of Christmas trees!

I caught up a little with my very behind blogging and Louis had an early night… perfect end to our first full day back down South.