While travelling from my last house-sit in Te Akau, I stopped at Bridal Falls on the way to Kawhia - this coastal route on the West side of the North Island I had not travelled before. Bridal Falls was a nice walk with a set of steps all the way to the bottom that lots of others were puffing from, but I did three walks up Hakarimata Summit Walking Track in Ngāruawāhia, left of Hamilton, in the previous two weeks, and that (for me) is a 40 minute walk climbing steps most of the way to the top. So not too much effort on the Bridal Falls' steps.

I returned to my locked car, travelled on down the coast stopping for a chat with the shore and pumice/sand-like rocks under Pohutukawa trees. Some words were written. Onwards I travelled to Kawhia stopping for a coffee and a toilet break, returning to my car and travelling on to Otorohanga, where I discovered both my guitar (in case) and laptop (in bag) were missing as I went to rearrange my vehicle for sleeping the night at the campsite I had parked up in. 

Racking my memory banks, and the day being Saturday and evening time, all I could do was lodge an online form to report the crime. Sunday came, and I decided to travel back to Hamilton's Chartwell Library so I could create a "Stolen" poster to distribute, travelled back to Kawhia where I believed the theft most likely took place as I was in the toilets, and distributed about to shops, petrol stations, and the Police (officer's wife who I had an awesome chat with). They were all sympathetic and helpful, and I stayed the night at a free camping ground for travelers like myself at a Roadhouse Diner just out of Kawhia township.

This morning arrived, the police rang, I went to the office to watch what the security cameras near the public toilets had caught, and although they had footage of my car and myself, there was no suspicious behaviour around my car when I wasn't near it.

It is most likely that the guitar and laptop were stolen either at Bridal Falls, which the police officer said was a hotspot for theft, or where I stopped on the coast before arriving in Kawhia. 

Of course it is disappointing that the theft occurred, more disappointing that I didn't backup my most recent documents! I know my car was locked and windows were up at Bridal Falls, but not so sure on the second stop.  I do not blame myself however, after all, it is the fault of the person who steals that theft occurs. 

And neither am I too fussed about the physical loss, though I do and would love to have them all back, it is the loss of the documents that form part of my writing life that I want returned the most. It is not the physical possessions that I live for, but the ability to create meaning from words. 

And that is what the thieves could not steal.