Around The World In 80 Waves

The van I have been equipped with is quickly appearing to be the runt of the litter.

Apart from the lack of a bed in a campervan when I was given the vehicle, I haven’t got the TV to work once regardless of where I try to tune it in, the microwave is not working properly and the electric cable only seems to connect the van to the mains when left lying at 67 degree angle relative to a 256 degree tilt of the van itself, whilst facing into a 35 mph wind!

I filled the fridge back in Raglan but the first load of contents all flew out like depth charges landing on the floor of the campervan when I went around a pretty tame corner back on North Island resulting the sort of floor omelette that nobody would want to eat.

At first I though I hadn’t shut it properly but it turns out the catch for the fridge door is broken and I end up having to wedge the door shut with one of my big bags put length ways across the middle of the galley kitchen. I would have repaired it with gaff tape straight away but it had been confiscated by my airline back in Panama, and my bodge only works until the bag moves due to any significant change in the vehicles inclination.

It is easy enough to source gaff tape here though and I re arm myself with some, which I use straight away to fashion a tape ‘handle’  that I can open and close, then seal the door with. It is all a bit A-Team but it works. 

Sadly it isn’t the only time I need the tape on the van, but I only discover that one of the other cupboard locks is also faulty once the entire contents of the crockery cupboard have slid to one side and forced the cupboard open as I turn a corner in the mountains, only to then fall to their demise on the floor of the van.

Every single item had been obliterated and I couldn’t have done a better job if I had smashed the lot with a bat. The aggravation of having to meticulously clean everything in the van once more because a wet surfer’s bare feet do not mix especially well with broken glass is the last thing I needed. I was shattered before arriving in New Zealand and didn’t have much energy to spare by this time.

Further lost time limits my exploring here, and I have had enough. None of it is the fault of the poor sod from the campervan company who answers the phone but he gets both barrels from me before I waste more time looking for a crockery shop. Not happy!