Zero shopping days to Christmas!

We have no shopping days until Christmas.

At present we are awaiting this latest southerly to blow through and will then depart for Chalky Inlet, Preservation Inlet and then on to Stewart Island for New Year. Well that is the plan anyway. We have spent a lot of time in the outer part of Dusky Sound. We spent some time in Pickersgill Harbour. A walk around Astronomers Point showed stumps of trees still visible from when Cooks men cut them down to allow him to make repairs to his ship and undertake his observations. You had to use your imagination
to see the stumps but guide book said they could be seen.

Luncheon Cove, another of Cooks hang outs has been a good base for us. We have been further north to Cormorant cove and explored the tidal mud flats within the marine reserve. A trip back to Luncheon Cove saw us visit all the small coves and inlets. This included Facile Harbour, site of the first ship wreck in NZ history. The "Endeavour" in 1795, not Cooks Endeavour! We stopped and anchored in 'Little Harbour' for lunch and a lazy afternoon. This harbour was used by sealers as it was close to the
sealing grounds. As the wind died that evening the sandflies found us. We got underway and left via a small gap in the islands about 10 metres wide. Quite typical of the anchorages here is the narrow but clear entrances.

Back at Luncheon Cove we have been enjoying it's lack of sandflies. We spent a day snorkeling with a few seals joining Tori and getting closer than she wanted in some cases! A few crays were in easy reach so one was brought back for dinner! We have undertaken two dives on the wreck of the "Waikere". This Union Steamship Company Passenger vessel sank in 1910 after hitting a rock. It lies in 6 to 18 m of water and is an easy dive. We could identify mooring bollards, ship side frames, lightening holes,
boilers, derricks and even some blocks and shackles on one mast. The teak decking was still visible and the teak that remains was in very good condition. The wreck is in an advanced state of decay but has faired well.

Luncheon cove lies within Anchor Island, a predator free island. A walk on the island allowed us to see Yellowheads, Saddlebacks, NZ Robins and Kakariki. The island is also home to Fiordland Crested and the Blue Penguin, of which we have seen many. The cove itself is a shelterd anchorage and has allowed us to relax for the first time in a long time. The cove is protected from all directions although has been gusty at times. It is home to many seal colonies. We have several just 20 to 50 metres away.
We have been watching the interaction of the seals including mothers with pups suckling. A remarkably noisy event (like Goff or Mark'o at lunch time).

The boat has been proving its capabilities well and has looked after us well. In the last 50 days we have had 10 days with FX winds less than 30 knots (Force 6), 30 days with winds 30 to 45 knots (Force 7 to 9), and 10 days with winds more than 45 knots (Force 10 and over). A solid lump of vessel is nice!

We will not be in phone coverage until New Year but will post a message to all family and friends on Christmas Day, and I will phone home to UK as soon as we are in phone coverage Mum, and to Gisborne Maire.