I’m lounging in our new bedroom, stretched out across a surprisingly comfortable double bed, listening to the rain. Eric is 3 ft away (excuse me, approximately 1 meter away) in the kitchen, attempting to christen our small stove. Soon we will be dining on our first hot meal: macaroni and cheese from the box. Complementing our “pasta and flavour mix” we have a fine 2014 sauvignon blanc, grown 30 miles away down Highway 1. (Kilometers. Kilometers. 48 Ks.)

And so ends Day 3 with The Beast. It’s remarkable to reflect that we were in Auckland only a few days back, still dreaming of cozy nights parked at the beach. We’re still combatting a to-do list of mundane tasks and renovation projects–dreamy days hiking mountains and ogling sheep are on hold.

Quick wine notes:
– Seifreid’s, your sav blanc is registering at a flimsy 3 on the scale, now that I’ve had my first few sips.
– The wine selection at the small town grocery store we stopped in at was astounding. I was delighted to discover that there were more shiny glass bottles of vino than all the juice, soda, and milk combined. I applaud your priorities, NZ. Drink your fruit. Shop local. Cheers.

^ The ferry ride south, from Wellington to Picton yesterday.

-K