MONDAY, 10TH DECEMBER,2013

We have been in the marina here for a week now sheltering from very strong winds and rough seas.  Today somebody switched the fan off!  The sun is out and we are setting sail for the Marlborough Sounds once we have filled up with fuel and returned the rental car.

We were visited on board by Tom and Vicky Jackson for drinks which was fun to catch up as they are now based here.

We have done some good walks whilst here and drove as far as Farewell Spit at the other end of the Abel Tasman reserve.  Very shallow one side of the spit which consists of huge sand dunes and a very rough Tasman Sea on the other.

We also visited some of the beaches we went to with the children when they came here with us 22 years ago including the one with Split Apple Rock.  The only road, route 60, to get to Abel Tasman goes up and over the top of a very large mountain range called Arthur Range, which made for some interesting driving in our small rental car.  Now must go and get the yacht ready to go to the fuelling dock.