1 year ago we got married, off 4 dinner at cape foulwind, seriously.

motuekas finest cafe bar, reggae at night and the delicious 'hangover brekkie' in the morning.

Well, what an experience that was. Most of the day long trip was idyllic paddling around looking at birds. However, going around the back of adele island when the wind picked up unexpectedly, was the scariest 30 mins ive had in a long time. A, 7 mths pregnant in the front, me steering us into the waves 2 avoid being tipped over into the rocks behind. Pretty bloody stupid in hindsight, although were both 2 have done it. Oh, the moorings rest't in motueka is terrible, worst steak ive had since coming 2 nz!

got a boat from kaiteriteri 2 torrent bay and went 4 walk 2 cascade falls. Beautiful sunny day, water clear and torquoise. Bush down here smells very sweet and the land granity. U could easily spend 2 weeks here in abel tasman, in fact we spoke 2 1 lady who had been here over 1 month! 2Morrow we have a day of sea kayaking around abel tasman, cant wait!

off 2 abel tasman after full cooked bfast from ra's cafe on queen st richmond, yum.

staying in top 10 hol park cabim. Annabel is having pregnancy nap, im doing a bit of planning 4 our trip 2 abel tasman 2morrow, where we r planning 2 spend 2 nights. Everything very beautiful, looking 4ward 2 a bit of sea kayaking.

arrived in nelson after an amazing scenic drive from picton. So heres the back of the car.

actually its this 1, Sans cd player. A threw a strop and demanded a map of picton and highlighting of the nearest Warehouse. The man replied that there was only 1 street and the choice basically amounted 2 left or right. Welcome 2 the south island. There is no Warehouse in Picton btw.

Just picking up our car, a toyota corolla mkii with a cd player.

weve finally managed to weave a bit of a plan 2gether beyond down the left and up the right. Were doing nelson, motueka, westport, greymouth, franz josef, haast, wanaka, queenstown, te anau, invercargill, dunedin, cromwell, tekapo, christchurch, and kaikoura b4 heading back 2 picton 4 ferry, 18 sleeps woo hoo!

seem here documenting the trip. Perhaps well c an irishman's wife down under blog appearing soon?

Just leaving w'ton 4 pictnn, still a bit grey, but it's stopped raining and will b sunny in nelson.

well, the points failure didnt last long, but it is still raining. A's brother has a flat we could stay in with a plasma. We went 4 lovely dinner at tinakori bistro, b4 collapsing in heap. Taxi coming shortly 2 take us 2 ferry terminal.

only about 1 hr outside w'ton, and heavens have opened alongside a points failure.

another shot

just passed over some enormous viaducts, built over an increasing number of gorges as we head south 2wards wellington.

unfortunately, the central north island is very overcast 2day, so we havent seen much of the mountains. we have howevdr discovered blueberry chocolate!. pic is of a huge big viaduct, there are loads of these down here.

a friend has just diagnosed me with ettbs, or excessive txt to blog syndrome. unabashed, i will continue 2 post meaningless repoqtage until the novelty wears off.

oops, heres the shot of annabel.

had a full cooked bfast consisting of mwaved bits of stuff, but it was only 6.00 so cant complain. picture shows annabel luxuriating in the lounge area of the train. not too many people on board. jim the mc 4 the 1st leg has informed me that waikato is maori 4 flowing water, nice.

it was a particularly early start (5.30) and so 1 hr into our journey, heads r starting 2 loll. havent quite cleared the burbs yet, so time 4 another wee sleep i think.

annabel waking up, train leaving in 15 mins 4 wellington.

annabel is still working hard, hols begin soon!

have just tested the blog with my mobile 4 first time, and it works a treat, surprisingly! this means i can post 2 and read it on the go, hoorah!

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december pics