Tongariro crossing!

I found my campingspot!! So proud! I didn't had a detailed map and it was not in a town but just in the middel of nowhere. With only a toilet.. There were a few people more with a campervan, better then just be alone during the night in the middel of nowhere I reckon. I said hello to the two girls and they were going to do the crossing too and had the bus on the same time. Walking buddies! Nice. I put out my tent, not in the spot I wanted to. A little bit lower because you could see that the people walked into the bushes there to do their thing. In the middel of the night, in the dark, it would be better when there is not a tent in the way.

Then it started to rain. . hard! So I got in my car. I just saw a little stream going towards my tent. And the place I first picked was still dry. . hmm. Just check on that really quick! It felt like a watterbed.. but no water was coming in so that was good. 
After half an hour I got bored in my car and went to the campervan of the two girls but saw that their front seat was full of bags so walked to the next car. Went in the frontseat said hello and then asked if I could stay there for a moment because I was bored in my car. I had seen her but didn't met her yet. She had to laugh and said of course. We talked for some time and when the rain stopped I walked towards my tent. All dry! Nice.

We got up at 5:15 am drove a bit and had the bus at 6:30. The wetter was really good. Not to hot and not to warm. It was nice to walk with a few people. The two girl and the one I joined in the car was there too. 

We started at 7:15am and finished at 13:30. Not to bad! Awesome views! Sometimes pretty steep and hard work but it was defenitelly worth it! I saw a 70 year old couple who did it with a backpack of 14kilo on their back! Respect! I thought Abel Tasman and the 17kilo backpack was already sportive. but those two. . and they would do a walk of four days. . I don't see me do that! Defenitely because the walk is not straight. . It goes up and down. Good on them!

I had my first surf lesson the next day at 1:30pm and I had to drive for about four hours first. Wanted to do a few hours after the crossing and a few the next day. But decided to join the girls on their camping spot so that we could have dinner together. I have to say I was a bit tired to. 

There is one picture that is a bit strange. . do you see which one? Well there are two but I mean the one that has to do with driving in NZ.