On Friday the 13th we left Maple Lodge. Everyone got up early to say farewell which was a great send off. Most of the gang i will see when we return to Wellington but Ian and Laura are jetting off to Vanuatu before going home so who knows when i'll see them again! Blub! Stay in touch lovelies.

We had the perfect day for a Cook Strait crossing and it was just beautiful. We saw dolphins five times. Not in the open sea but all in the Malborough Sounds. And miracles of miracles we saw two Little Blue Penguins swim past the ferry just as we were stood chatting on the deck! Amazing.

We stopped in Picton for some lunch and to check oil and water for Ollie. The sun was glorious and it was hot. We headed straight to Watson's Way backpackers at Renwick, where me and Jim had stayed and even stayed in the same room. Weird! We chilled out for the night and watched TV (novelty for Ju).

The next day we did the wine tour on bikes which was brilliant. The autumn colours were mind blowing and we ricocheted between vineyards, occasionally stopping to eat the walnuts that had fallen from the trees. Heaven. It was really windy though and we actually got a bit lightheaded. After the sixth (or was it seventh?) tasting, we left the cellardoor and got on our bikes. Before setting off, we stood puzzled for a moment, utterly confused as to why my helmet was suddenly down past my ears and Dan's was perched up on top of her head. Laurel and Hardy eat you heart out - we'd got on the wrong bikes! What t***.

x