Now this is what I had
envisaged with my journey – today (22nd Jan) was a perfect day! Up early to
get ready to sail down to Port Adventure from Half Moon Bay,
listening to the weather and placing my sked call. I set off at
7.45am, and the wind was already starting to pick up to a bit over 15
knots. It was a lovely run down to Port Adventure, passing below 47º
South, with winds varying from almost dead to gusts of over
20-25 knots, it kept me busy with adjusting the sails and I arrived
in no time. The only slight annoyance was a bumble bee that flew next
to Honey and me the whole way down and is still hanging around!
Safely moored in Abraham's Bosom by 11am, I had the whole day to
explore and relax. After I'd tidied up and stowed the ropes and
sails, I jumped into the dinghy and across to the lovely beach I was
moored next to, a short bush wack through to the other side and I
landed in paradise – the most beautiful deserted golden sand beach,
except for a few deer tracks!
I walked the length of
the beach, and then decided it was about time for my first swim of
the year – it was actually warm and sunny, so a quick skinny dip
and a walk back to the other end of the beach. Next up it was back to
the dinghy and an explore in the cove where I was anchored, up to the
end where a stream came out, and up the stream in the dinghy to a
waterfall, surrounded by native bush, so beautiful, and then I let
the breeze blow me back to Honey.
A quick lunch –
leftover sausage stew from last night and I settled into an afternoon
of relaxing and reading in the sun, and swatting away pesky bumble
bees. The only folk I have seen since I have been here are some lads
who are staying in a hut nearby that came by in their dinghy and said
hi. The breeze completely died off and I almost forgot I was on a
boat, glassy calm with not even any lapping. A good opportunity for a
shower – I had filled up the solar shower when I bucketed water
into Honey's tanks yesterday, and then to top off a perfect day I
thought I'd treat myself to a Rheineck!
Today has been really restorative and I feel for the first time in more than a week that I can keep going with my goal of circumnavigating New Zealand. My confidence (and tolerance) had taken a knock with the wild weather since I arrived in Stewart Island. Of course, this assumes the weather plays ball, as it is wild and unpredictable in these parts, even more so this summer than normal.
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