It happens most every day; we’ve come to expect it. After arriving at a new campsite, scrutinizing the suitability of each swath of 2×6 meter terrain — is it level? private? shaded? will the neighbors see me in my underwear? — our careful planning is for naught. For most every evening around the time of the dinner bell, some lumbering RV will tap it’s brake light gingerly in our proximity. Chin moving left to right as if spectating a phantom tennis match, the man behind the wheel will be trying to assess the situation quickly, eager to be rid of the burdensome title of driver. Beside him, there will be a female in the front, jabbing a steady pointer finger determinedly in our direction. They’ve got their own list of priorities in deciding which site to alight upon. Unfortunately for us, privacy never seems to be an area of overlap.

As each oversized, overfull vehicle comes to overcrowd our nest, the newcomers are not given the warmest of welcomes from the ’93 Hiace. Upon seeing our backyard quickly disintegrate, my typical response goes to the tune of “Get da fuck outta here!” in low, accented tones one would associate with the Chicago mafia. And so: it’s really no wonder that we’ve made no friends here, swapped no stories over the campfire. (Not that we could, NZ’s got a restrictive fire ban.) I clearly do not love my neighbors as I love my unobstructed views, or the opportunity to carry on, sans pants.

-K

Edit: I, of course, being the good Minnesotan I am, make sure all parties have windows firmly closed before being properly passive aggressive. We’re not actually hostile towards our fellow campers. We just like our space, preferring bird song and cheery, dappled trees for company over vehicles bursting with a gaggle of eager kids, or German teenagers with backseats full of cheap beer. (Of which there seems to be an inexhaustible supply. Wie schade.)

^ The recipe for an exquisite morning.

^ This place (Akaroa) is pretty as a postcard. I’ve never seen anything like it. Photo snapped while hanging out the van window.

^ Are all forests here enchanted?

^ F/18! Camera play. Refreshing. Picked up a new wide angle lens in Christchurch to have some fun with.