Beatrix pottering: Hero Kevin, free range Jemima

"Wild weather wreaked havoc over the weekend" shouted the newspapers - parts of New Zealand saw gusts of 160km/h; streets in Wellington were closed because of glass falling off buildings; and a car was blown off the road. Thankfully, therefore, this weather was abnormal, and likely to change; and also, thankfully, we woke up in Ohakune safe and sound - although it was still raining. A supermarket stop, and we started driving down the mountain.

The temperature was slowly increasing, although it was still raining, when we passed young man fiddling with his bike by the side of the road. Shortly after, we were finishing our lunch in a lay by with a view (I love motorhoming) when he appeared over the horizon, pushing his bike - broken beyond repair. So Kevin was a Good Samaritan and got him and it - and much mud - on board. It turned out he (Justin) was a young twenty-something American, cycling around NZ alone for a few months (!), was going to our destination, Whanganui, too. So we took him there, he, Jemima and I chatting cheerfully on the way. We waved goodbye at his friend's house and found our way to our next campsite, another Top10, with the weather now finally clear (at least warm, and not raining).

These campsites have all been clean and friendly, with great kids facilities, and this was no exception. We were checked in by Jack from Twickenham (!), and Jemima headed straight for the bouncy pillow while I did some washing and Kevin made spag bol for dinner. She started fairly unsuccessfully, chasing after a little German girl saying, "hello, hello, hello, hello, hello" to no response - and even repeating my few words of German didn't help. But other children turned up and soon there was a little gang of them bouncing and climbing on the playground - all slightly grubby and wild of hair, and all barefoot, Jemima included (we've commented to her how all the NZ children never wear shoes and have tough feet, and she now says, "I have tough feet too").

Kevin had a good idea to move the motorhome from the pretty river view site to one right in the centre, with a view of the bouncy pillow, so we were able to do our own thing while she marauded around with the other children - it's the most independent she's ever been, but it's possible here because it's all so small and enclosed that we can see her without being involved. She loved it (and so did we...).

A delicious Kevin spag bol (AND he did the washing up), then a DVD for him and I once Jemima had gone to bed; and a decision to stay put tomorrow as - fingers crossed - the weather is supposed to be better, and we don't want to spend our one sunny day driving. So the pace feels familiarly once more like our European trips, which is lovely. All we need now is the expected NZ summer sunshine.