Today, Saturday is a sunny, blustery (very windy) day. Jer has gone fishing out of the Nelson Harbour with Bella's brother, Adam. I think it will be very choppy on the water, but I'm hoping they will catch some fish for supper. The fish here are soooooo tasty. Maybe because they are fresh when cooked, and usually they are done on the barbie. Marliese and I are about to go into Nelson for the last time at the market. Nelson has the biggest and best market on the South Island – so I've been told!! It is amazing. Andrew loves the bratwurst with sauerkraut, I really enjoy all the crafters - the potters in particular. It's a very busy place!

Split apple rock

Totaranui Beach

some ferns we walked through

one of the views as we tramped

Yesterday, Jerry and I took the bus up to Able Tasman National Park. Sam, Bella's golf pro brother-in-law, had won a prize at a golf tourny here in Nelson before the wedding. He had given us the voucher, which was a one day pass for two, to do the Able Tasman tramp, using the combination of boat cruise and tramping. What a fantastic gift for us!!! This was the same route that Marliese had kayaked at the beginning of the week. The day was perfect – sunny, warm AND the sea (ocean) was calm. So, we caught a coach (bus) nearby, and had a 1 ¼ hour ride along the coast to Kaiteriteri, where we boarded the catamaran at 9:15, and cruised all the way up the coast to Totaranui stopping along the way at numerous golden sands beaches to pick up or drop off other passengers. We sat on the top and enjoyed the sun and the view. To one side, we saw the beaches, forests, mountains and rocks; to the other side we saw the endless ocean. We saw a few baby seals (about a month old) and lots of ocean birds. At Totaranui the boat turned back, and we continued back until Tonga Quarry, where we got off. We sat on some rocks on the beach while having our lunch, enjoying the hot sun, the aqua colored ocean and each other's company; all the while reminding ourselves that we were enjoying this warmth in JANUARY.......... AND in New Zealand, no less!!!! Then we did a most spectacular tramp through native forest to Barks' Bay where we enjoyed the beach until it was time to board again. Native forests consist of many kinds of ferns and fern trees. Just so beautiful to tramp through!!! Thanks, Sam. Someday, we think we might want to tramp the entire Able Tasman Track. Though staying in those DOC huts wouldn't be as relaxing as the ones we stayed at with Andrew. These huts need to be reserved months in advance, and they are always full. But the views while tramping would be worth it.