36:50.48S 174:45.65E

Curious is now tucked up safely in Viaduct Marina in the centre of Auckland.

The marina is reminiscent of St Katherine’s dock marina in the centre of London where our journey began 2 ½ years ago,  but without the history.

Unusually I am preparing to leave Curious in the care of others, Terje who will use her as a base to explore New Zealand, Bill, Jo and Gram who will use her as a base for their time over the New Year celebrations and hopefully for Allan and Alison who we will meet up with again when they come over from Australia to spend a little time here before they go back to California.

It was great to meet up again today with our two stowaways from the Yasawas, Fiji,  Nicole and Toby, who had travelled up to Whangerai hospital only to find that I had come down to Auckland. They have only a few days of their extended holiday left before they head back to the UK and the real world.

Despite the limp, the year will end on a high, Trish and I will meet up in London, I’ll get time with our grand daughter, son Chris and  daughter in law Bethan before flying out to Lyon to spend time with our daughter and son-in-law Yann over Xmas and the New Year, hopefully some of the time spent on skis!!

So I’ll leave you with this last Blog of 2010.

Trish and I would like to wish each and every one of you and great Xmas and a happy, peaceful and prosperous 2011.

We would like to thank everyone we have met  on our journey across the Pacific for making 2010 such a memorable year.

Special thanks must go to Bill for making sure I am around to see 2011!!!

Best wishes

Steve & Trish

Aka – Ace & Your Highness your Highness