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Zak and Mel's Excellent Adventure
Happy Christmas to everyone! Not sure if you will get this before Christmas day but just in case some of you are still online!! We finished the Abel Tasman walk on Tues but not without a few dramas! Monday night (after we wrote last) we decided to go back to the lovely restaurant in Awaroa. It was a bit of a treat and we had also met up with a couple of people (Claire from Surrey! and Frederico from Milan). They were travelling together and were good fun, so we all decided to have dinner together. Although the restaurant was a 40 min walk away from the camp site we thought it would be worth it as the food was delicious. We set out at 7pm and it was already raining fairly hard but we thought what the hell! During our meal about 9pm the rain became monsoon like and wind to match. It was now dark (lucky we had head torches) and we had river crossings to make too. We set off about 10pm having prepared ourselves well with wine and beer and soon realised it was going to be a hairy walk home! Zak thought it would be funny (for those who know Zak well his idea of funny is not everyones!) to run off and turn his head light off so I was left on my own not knowing where anyone was! Funny - he is pure comedy!!! We then had to cross a river which is really tidal, the rain was coming down v. hard and we had visibility of about 2 metres! To cut a long story short we got back to the tent absolutely drenched but felt lucky not to feature on one of those 911 rescue programmes that we laugh at how stupid people have been! Tues we set off on the final leg of the walk and got a water taxi booked for 11am. Mel was looking forward to a gentle, picturesque cruise back to the start (Marahau). What became apparent with the arrival of the taxi ,which was a struggle to even get on due to choppy conditions, was that a firm stomach was required. Anyone who know Mel well, knows this is not her forte!!! As we set off to open water the jovial, kiwi driver joked that 'it might be a bit choppy, but you guys look pretty hard!!' Funny! At this point I (Mel) knew I was in trouble. Needless to say I have never felt more grateful to be back on land as the 1 hr 30 min journey was pure hell!! I even fantasised about walking the whole way back it was that bad! Of course Zak was in his element, pointing out seals, and landmarks which quite honestly I couldn't have cared less about!!!! Tues afternoon we drove through Nelson and on to Picton where we stayed at a lovely hostel for 2 nights. We went out on a cruise (this time a proper cruise!) around the sounds. The image we have added will give you an idea of what it looks like. This was amazing and it was a gorg day which only made it better. Yesterday we drove on down the coast, stopping of at Blenheim for a wine tasting tour at Montana. NZ's biggest and oldest vineyard. We arrived in Kaikoura last night and have booked to go swimming with seals later today (weather permitting) although we have been lucky enought to stop enroute and get so close you wouldn't believe to some of them. Once again, happy Christmas to you all. Have fun whatever you have planned. Lots of love us xxxxxx
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