Sunday 12th December

I have given up tracking the days as they all just keep coming. We are on day going to the Catlins today. I forgot to tell you about the Sticky Beak cafe that is Heathers home in Otarata. We had heard whispers and driven by to find that it is open from 2-430 on Sundays only. I like a woman who gets the work life balance sorted!
Matthew and Ethan went to check it out on Saturday evening in order to get photos as we were not going to be in the area in the afternoon. As it happens they took the wrong road and went to Bluff. On their way back a woman waved them past as they were fast and she was not. Matthew found Sticky Beak and was out of the car to take photos when that same woman rocked up and guess what, yes it was Heather. They got the tour and photos that they would have missed had they not got lost. Yay.
Today we left Invercargill...got 10kms out of town and turned around to get fuel..whoops. On the road again and we ricocheted (sp) between Edendale and Wyndam trying to decide which cafe to do. Matthew was convinced we needed to do Lee's Dairy and Cafe in Wyndam and he wa s right. Where else apart from rural NZ can you get videos, groceries, takeaways and a cappucino. Yes the coffee was not the hightlight but as a whole experience we were thrilled. The Lee's are local and had a story to tell. The kids loved the food and we missed the Bert Munro street race by a week. All good.
On to Niagara Falls cafe. In an old school house with animals for Ruby and wireless for them all. The place is on the market if you are keen and it is a great spot.
We made our way to Curio Bay to see the petrified forest which wasn't that visible and then saw a yellow eyed penguin, that was. Really cool and the seaweed was beautiful too. Around the corner we spotted some Hectors dolphins in the bay and although the day was turning out to be a long one, it was worth it.
An hour on and we were in Owaka 4 Square getting supplies as we didn't know what we would be able to get in Pounawea where we were staying in the campground. Managed that and then into a magical area.
On arrival at the campground we were given the once over by Judy. They had had some strange phonecalls and were suspicious that we were a scam and not actually writing a book etc. It was very funny and she said that if we got strange looks while we were in the area it was down to her and sorry. We did our best impression of normal and made dinner in the shared kitchen. Pounawea Campground is awesome and we went for a walk on the beach after dinner while Matthew drove off to explore the area. The kids and I had fun with the crabs, it was one of those really precious moments.
Matthew returned to find us all gone and he went for a bush walk before we all caught up. Then at 8.00pm we made our way to Jacks Bay to see the Blowhole. One big walk later we found it and it wasn't blowing. But the walk back was restful and fun. I checked out the cribs right down by the water and Matthew and I fantisised about a writers retreat for two while the kids dug in the sand and made dams. A good day.