We were amazed, then realised this was the place for young people to be. As we went into Furneaux Lodge we met 100s of young people with the bar working flat out. It was a beautiful day with everything perfect for New Years. We went on to Endeavour Inlet Resort and found a Camp there near the track with a view out to the water. We had a shower, cooked rice and veggies and tuna and had a lovely nights sleep. We wondered how many people had been raped the night before amidst the combination of etoh, youth on mass and boats, and set off out of there to Punga Cove. I was intrigued to read about the antiminee mines in the hills at the head of Endeavor Inlet. It was an hour and a half walk up there. We were tempted, but decided not to. We had a lovely sleep at lunch time at the head of Big Bay, and I had a swim, and a wash in the creek. We met Mike Copeland on the track who worked with MAF, and had an interesting concept of illuminating the relationship of the settlers with the land as part of the features of our country.

We found a good camp site at Punga Cove, had a swim around Ari's orange yacht, and relaxed. Next day we meandered our way up the hill following another lovely swim and a shower at Punga Cove, and camped up on the ridge above Keneperu Sound at the shelter which had water. It was lovely to be up high, and savor the view. I had the first touch of a couple of blisters walking up here. We camped up at the next shelter only 3 hours walk, and we deliberated whether to walk on to Torea Bay and summon up Grilly, but we thought why rush, and lets keep life simple, so we read our books and enjoyed the view, then about lunch time we set off for Torea Bay, had another swim. My togs bottom self destructed, and we made tea on the beach. Right on five o'clock, there was Grill gunning through the waves on the red skidder good old Grill. It was so good to see her and Bobby again. Bobby was off to a funeral in Taupo and Boddy's son Guy was at the batch with a couple of friends. Grill made a fantastic meal. And Walt and I slept in the sleep out. Next day we had a lovely day of swimming and relaxing on the deck. Still no fish. I watched Grill's dog, Woody who is TOTALLY blind swimming and diving deep into the water for rocks. Grill and I had a lovely day together. I found Guy very interesting he told us all about his overseas adventures and near death experiences. Grill made beautiful Malaysian Laksa that night.

Next day Walt and I walk/ran the last 14 kilometers of the track without our packs. We were hot and did it 5 hours. I had a swim at the end of the track. We found the car safe and motored through to Nelson and stayed the night with The Grand at Atawhai. Anne McCalman was there and we feasted on ham and salad. I loaded up with grapefruit and oranges and we motored through to Granny Webber's at Marahau after stocking up at Nelson how wonderful it was to see Granny and Grandad.

Next day we water taxied down to Awaroa inlet and surprised Guy Karen and Synthia with our presence. We had a lovely BBQ that night with lamb steaks and met Cathy and others. Had a lovely time swimming with the Boylers. Guy and the Boylers walked over to Tonga Bay with us where Walt and I walked into the Sunset on the last leg of our journey. We spied a beautiful camp sight past Bark Bay called Medland Bay and camped RIGHT on the beach just above the high water mark. Next I took a wash in the tidal creek near by. Everything was going fine until a pack rebel sea lice came biting at my privates in a bid to combat mother nature taking it's course.

We had a lovely walk out that day back to Marahau. We stayed one more night with Granny and saw something of Anna. Next day we drove back to Mt Lyford after a leisurely gossip over cups of tea at granny's. We stocked up some lovely fruit and veggies through the Motueka River Valley. We had 2 more nights at Mt Lyford, had Robyn and Mike Powell for a meal and I made smashing apricot jam. Feeling like 30 million dollars we set off back home to an immaculate house and garden of which the pubby and Jo had prepared, how wonderful it was to be home and see the pups and the animals.