As planned, we celebrated Christmas in Nelson with Bill and Zoe from S/Y Into the Blue. Very sadly Ian and Manuela from S/Y Mr X had engine problems (a never ending situation with boats) and did not make it down to Nelson. There is no doubt that Christmas in a warm or hot climate is not really a proper Christmas. I know a wet drizzly UK Christmas Day does not seem so good either but we really did miss the family gathering, turkey and Christmas pudding for lunch, a proper log fire and dreadful telly. Like everyone we are so looking forward to a better 2021.
Christmas in New Zealand is, as ever here, very practical. Very notably, not so many decorations – so much easier to take down what you don’t put up. We joined the Kiwis for some excellent Christmas Eve Carols with a brass band, and had a very good BBQ (with sprouts), probably too much alcohol and some excellent Christmas pudding on Into the Blue. An excellent day but some sadness thinking about life back home.
Christmas over, our next task was to prepare for the Heaphy Great Walk. This is a five days/four nights walking and camping trip. We headed over to the Abel Tasman coast to get some strenuous exercise. This is quite different to The Sounds with more cliffs and sandy beaches, but a place where we could do some good preparatory walking. The Kiwis were now on holiday and the anchorage was very busy, and the sport fishing boats out in force.
From here we headed back to the Pelorus Sound and Havelock marina through the notorious tidal gate, French Pass. Havelock is the World’s centre for the production of the New Zealand green lip mussels, and they are rightly very proud of them. It seems there is nothing that cannot be done to a green lip mussel, but believe me deep frying and rolling them in breadcrumbs does nothing for the mussel! A good white wine sauce is the answer.
We had a wonderful few days sailing in The Sounds with Debbie and Andy Kerry. Debbie is an old school friend now living near Christchurch. They certainly brought the sunshine, and being braver than us went swimming.
It was now time to pack those rucksacks. Despite our determination to reduce our packs’ contents, and take only that which was strictly necessary they still did seem very heavy and full. In case you were wondering, two litres (2kgs!) of wine was deemed essential. Bill very kindly took us to the bus station, and on observing our fellow trampers, Bill could not help but remark that we were the eldest by about 20 years. He had a point but we held our own, despite a little trepidation. Yes, a little tired, and a few blisters on our return but all in all we managed just fine.
The Heaphy Track Great Walk is 78 km long, climbs 800m and we started on the rugged West Coast. The Walk is famed for the variety of landscapes and vegetation with bush, nikau palms, beech forest, and alpine tussock grasses. Sadly we still failed to see a kiwi but did hear them most nights, and of course the dreaded sandfly was all too present.
Such varied landscapes
We have had a quiet few days cleaning the boat, watching the amazing America’s Cup and other such tasks, but are looking forward to walking the Abel Tasman Track next week with Ian and Manuela from Mr X. Let us hope our good fortune with the weather holds out, but more than anything wishing for a much better 2021.
Sailing in A Capella of Belfast 
All sounds amazing …enjoy yr next tramp 😁
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Thank you for this it’s like a holiday just looking at the pics. What a wonderful life compared to ours in U.K. under lockdown! No family get togethers at Christmas this year . Many of us spent it alone for the first time, with the dreadful T.V. Roll on 2021 it has to be better. Joy
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Oh wow, well done. What a super fit couple you both are now.
Believe me you didn’t miss anything here in the UK at Christmas. Lovely to hear that you had the freedom to join friends and events.
Keep enjoying every day and all that wonderful tramping. xx
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Thank you for this brilliant account of your recent travels. It all sounds just as exciting as usual, but with a little tang of homesickness! Let me tell you…….. I think you are better off 😂!! It is so muddy here at Lower Milcote. You can’t go anywhere or see anyone! Thank god for Soph & Tess because they are around and we had a great Sunday lunch yesterday + Ed (you remember Ed…… we are totally accepting nowadays and he has really good chat – so we are never short on conversation!). Soph & Ed have made their home (the other side of Tenbury) really comfortable and, in reality, we shouldn’t mix – but Soph & Nick work together, so we do! I don’t know when things are going to improve, but I would stay where you are as long as you can. The hiking sounds lovely and you do get to socialise……. I don’t think you can get back, which probably makes you want to come. However, trust me and stay where you are 💕💕. I do miss you though and you must miss your boys very much.
Lots of love from Ali xxxxx
On Sun, 17 Jan 2021, 23:15 Sailing in A Capella of Belfast, wrote:
> patriciammorgan posted: ” As planned, we celebrated Christmas in Nelson > with Bill and Zoe from S/Y Into the Blue. Very sadly Ian and Manuela from > S/Y Mr X had engine problems (a never ending situation with boats) and did > not make it down to Nelson. There is no doubt that Christ” >
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You are certainly living a dream, and thank you for sharing it. We spent a few days at Able Tasman a few years ago and loved it. Keep safe and keep enjoying this beautiful world.
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Just thinking – the Kiwis can hardly sing such carols as “In the Bleak Midwinter”, “See Amid the Winter’s Snow”,
“Good King Wenceslas”, “When the Crimson Sun had set” – most weather-inappropriate for them ! Here it’s
more like “Slip amid the winter’s mud” and getting muddier by the day. I tried to buy wellies for the mares, but
strangely enough, nobody makes them – now there’s an opening for a budding entrepreneur! Enjoy your next
expedition, you have such a wide range, we’re not supposed to go more than 5 kilometres from home without a
very good reason, roll on the vaccines!
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The blogs get better and better. So thankful you survived the 5 days very gruelling trek. Your fitness must be A1. Wonderful views. And all so interesting. Glad you took the wine !!! Your t-towel and Christmas card have reached me via Neill and the purple swamp hen decorates the back door. Never heard of that bird. Thanks and lots of love Maureen
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