Paddling along

Yes, probably our last kayaking for some time and we finally feel we've cracked it! Sum total of zero 'marital harmony moments' and at times we actually looked like we knew what we were doing! All that plus swell from boats making large splashes along the front of the boat - very exciting! The only slight confusion came when our guide asked us to head for the 'yellow boo-eee' - phonetically typed! We weren't sure what this was (neither was another couple with us). After a while paddling we realised he meant 'buoy'!

We were kayaking in Milford Sound for 5 hours and it was stunning but wet so no blog picture - sorry!

Left at 6:30 am which we felt was quite impressive. Journey there was interesting 2hr drive mostly in dark on very wiggly road. Now we've been on some roads in our travels and been on some roads in the dark on our travels but that is the closest either of us want to ever come to car sickness. So feeling slightly 'ughy' we promptly climbed aboard sea kayak (as you do) immediately felt much better.

Of course climbing aboard was after battling the sand flies which were AWFUL. Even Martyn thought they were so bad that he asked me to protect him as he changed into his thermals and kayaking gear. This resulted in me doing a hilarious 'wafty wafty' dance all around him as he changed (sandflies do not like breezes). Rest of group found this very funny, I was humiliated but Martyn was not bitten. Did he do the same for me? Did he heck as like. He was too busy applying DEET to the remaining uncovered bits of him which by this time was just his hands and face. All this while I did the quickest strip and redress ever achieved by a human being!!!

Scenery was stunning - just like the postcards but a strange thing happened at the end. Despite yesterday being on board a cruise ship with 100 other people we both agreed we preferred Doubtful Sound. There was always somewhere on the boat that no-one else was and, the stillness and quiet when they turned the engines off was indescribable. In contrast Milford, being more accessible had 3 cruise ships which went past at least three times each and numerous sea planes, scenic flights and helicopters over head!

Despite this we still viewed a pod of bottlenose dolphin (which is very cool from a kayak) and three fur seals!

Drive back was much better as we could a) see and b) stop off and take photos (which Martyn did with avengeance - I feel more keep delete approaching!) Seriously a beautiful drive and another picture perfect day!

Back to Te Anau in time for trip to pictures - very special cinema. This guy spent 5 yrs flying helicopters and made a film of the scenery. Couldnt find a cinema that would show it so built his own! Cynically Martyn and I decided if it took him 5yrs to film and he got 32 mins of film he either wasn't very good or he was not very efficient and lining up shots. It was a stunning piece of film though (but then it would be as the scenery is) it was nice to see it in the different seasons though! Biggest seats ever in the cinema.

Back to little cabin for dinner and a big re-pack of the bags. It is time for our little tent to go home. This makes us quite sad. He has protected us from thunder storms and mosquitos, kept us warm in the cold and and provided shade from the sun. We shall miss him and hope he makes it home safely.

Oh dear - have just realised I have assigned a gender to our tent. Definitely losing it.,......