Today it’s pretty miserable. Squally rain greyness, gusting wind, Grace squirming across the water on a mooring as the blasts of fast moving air skitter across the surface. The boat is in constant motion, twirling this way and that. I’m sat in the cockpit, tent is up as I watch raindrops racing down the plastic windows. 

We’re in the Abel Tasman. Last trip before we put Grace to bed for a while. Yesterday the sun shone, the park resonated quietness as most of the tourists are done for the season. There’s a walk I like to do here which only takes about an hour. I’ve walked it countless times but still love what it has to offer.  My loop I call it. Maybe there be one more circuit to be had before we leave. 

Nelson calls. Our lives over the next few days will be filled with engine and generator maintenance, bundling sails and trips to the rented storage unit before we fly to Auckland. Good friends Brian and Sue live out on the Coromandel. The area got blasted recently by the fringes of a cyclone so no doubt we’ll see land slips and road damage on our visit. New Zealand does fall apart in bad weather. 

Then up to Oz for 10 days. We will cycle the Brisbane Rail Trail as well as goat herding and helping with pig maintenance. And finally into the UK via Bangkok, assuming the world hasn’t run out of aviation fuel. The rogue lunatic may have fresh madness dreamed up by then. 

I’m realising that actually what I’m doing here is writing a flowery list of things to do in the next three weeks or so. Well that saves me a job. Apologies for the diatribe. You’ve been suckered into reading Helen’s list here.

We spent some time recently sailing / motoring in the Marlborough Sounds. It’s beautiful and can feel detached and occasionally remote in its outreaches. The views of Pelorus and Queen Charlotte Sounds from the main trail are breathtaking. But boy, it’s a tricky old place to sail and to find good quality shelter. One minute you have 10 knots from a particular direction, then the wind dies instantaneously and comes back at 20 knots in a completely different direction. Even if you’re not a sailing person, hopefully you feel my frustration. 

Overall it’s not been a straightforward season this year. Plans changed for a number of reasons, me breaking my arm didn’t help. That’s all good and mighty now. Seeing friends and family back in the UK is to the forefront of my mind now.