To the Great Coast Road and a dry spell.

The day started wet, grey and miserable. Not that we are ever miserable though, we rallyists are made of sterner stuff. The rain was relentless for the first part of the day and then, a miracle happened. The sun came out 🌞. Thank you New Zealand. Immediately the world changed and had a new complexion.

The drive today was around 300kms. If you looked at a map of South Island and saw the area that we have covered so far, it would look like very little driving indeed. But, on a rally, the obvious route is never taken. We've been all over the place to cover not much ground. It really is the very best way of seeing a country. 

There was plenty of gravel this morning, the usual twists and turns, NZ's oldest pub (not open and not very old), up hill, down dale, all driven in driving rain and cold. Then, it brightened. Hurrah!  Slivers of blue sky appeared, then we hit the coast and all was sparkly and magical. 

What a spectacular bit of coastline we have been along today. The Great Coast Road - and very great it is. Wild, raw and utterly spectacular with the added bonus of a seal colony.   Our home for the night is perched on the shore where the only sounds are the crashing waves. There's lamb for dinner and if the wind ever goes down, we will have a bonfire on the beach tonight. No chance.  But at least it's stopped raining.