Sun Dec 29
Slow morning then quick drive to St Arnaud. Stopped for groceries and quick bite on way

Rainy but not too bad. Did a hike near lake and working toward earning a badge. Saw eels and honeysuckle. Sandflies loved dad. Later learned that they are attracted to darker colors and I was wearing all black, so indeed they were more attracted to me than the rest of the group. Wore lighter colors the next day. :-)

Pasta dinner and cards

Mon Dec 30
Rainy. Slow start and breakfast and finally got crew rolling. Boys wanted to build a dam in the river and as predicted Ty fell in and we had to go back for fresh clothes. Got rolling again and hike was fine. Boys had fun dumping raindrops off trees onto themselves. Quick snack of chips lakeside but rain kept it short. To the ranger station to complete our pamphlets and claim our badge. Hid from rain for the afternoon other than a drive to lookout that was socked in.

Dinner at lodge and off to Kaikoura tomorrow. Hopefully rain will be gone.