We are slow in packing the van and don’t leave until around 1pm. My brain is not functioning well today and I’m having a hard time getting going. Even simple tasks are a struggle and I seem to be going round in circles. We stop at New World to pick up a few things and I can’t even make a decision as to which packet of corn chips to buy.

When we leave New World we realise that half our food is still sitting in the refrigerator at home. After going back to collect the food I still have to go and get pre-op blood tests done and pick up a prescription so that further delays us. Finally we get on to the motorway at about 2pm. Unfortunately the motorway is gridlocked from about Sylvia Park all the way to the Bombays. We crawl along and realise we won’t make it to the campsite until dark. 

We finally arrive around 6pm and check in. We abandon the idea of cooking and ask if there are good fish n chips nearby. We are told by the camp staff there is a takeaway kiosk that does the best fish n chips about 5 mins walk away and it is open till 7pm. We go there and order at about 6:45. This turns out to be a very bad move as the fish is so greasy that the oil seeps through three layers of paper. The fish itself is fresh but is ruined by the soggy batter. Even the chips aren’t great. We don’t finish it. Susannah is exhausted by the long, slow drive and our trip so far hasn’t gone according to plan but we are both grateful to get out of Auckland and away from Cancer Life.

C is for Change