Pancake Rocks

Roadside view
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The campsite in Panakiki is lovely, and next door to a pub/restaurant that does great food and even takeaways, so we are very happy!  Steve is pleased to be back next to some decent sea, and dreams of his first fish.  We decide to stay a couple of days and relax.  On Monday we take a trip into Greymouth, mainly to pick up insect repellent as I have been eaten alive by sandflies.  We spot our first kiwi on the camspite, and Matthew attempts to fly his kite on the beach.  Its a fairly relaxing time, well as relaxing as it gets with 2 kids in tow.

Pancake rocks
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We are now 3 weeks into our holiday, and well its been exhausting, but also good fun.  We are definitely having a great time, but its hard work sometimes trying to have fun.  Sometimes its hard work just getting out of the motorhome in a morning, especially with the added issues of sunscreen and insect repellent for all!  I'm enjoying it though, and think the pace is about right.  We arent people to hang around in one place for too long, though I suspect we will linger more on the north island when we return.

biggest problems so far

The biggest problems so far have been:

1) Getting Matthew into a routine - we seem to have mastered this now, with the aid of the pushchair during the day

2) Figuring out why Lloyd has a screaming episode most afternoons - it seems to be a combination of wind and tiredness, which is resolved by putting him face down across our legs.

3) Not overheating - it can be too hot to have the kids outside sometimes, but too hot in the motorhome also.  We have just bought a beach tent, so maybe that will help.

As I sit here now on Tuesday at 4pm both kids are fast asleep, as is Steve (who has returned from an unsuccessful fishing trip).  We are sitting about 50 yards from the Tasman Sea, just up from Punakaiki. All I can hear is the sea and the wind, its not bad at all.