We awoke to continual rain, hoping the rain before 7, saying would apply.   We had heard about a MH aire in Kristiansand near to the ferry, which would have been ideal as our check in time is 7am at the latest.  However after driving around and getting stuck etc, with no sign of any free parking, we decided to go back along the coast. All the rastplass had very clear ' no camping' signs, so we decided to go back to Mandal.     We knew it was cheating a bit, but the carpark is free to cars after 5pm (MH's are supposed to pay 10NOK for 24 hrs inc electricity) We would only be staying until about 5.15 am at the latest, and wouldn't hook up to the electricity. So we went to the beach and parked up for free until 6pm. then moved back to the MH aire.
By the afternoon the weather had cleared up nicely so we walked along the 800m beach and back again in the sun.