Heading to Marlboough

Wednesday morning and the 'Gang of Six' headed off - Marianne and Willi to Christchurch and on to Sydney, Los Angeles and Nashville; Jean, David, Helen and Eric to Blenheim via morning tea with Auntie Joy, the Queen Charlotte Drive and Picton. Seven days had suddenly disappeared with photos and memories of adventures, explores and fabulous meals. It's been feast time for green lipped mussels and salmon.

Eric again at the wheel headed to Nelson and a morning visit with Auntie Joy, Adrienne, and Barry. After a few 'loop de loops' to find their address, we discovered their home high in the hills overlook paddocks and fields. Auntie Joy's cottage was nearby. Sausage rolls and fresh blue berry muffins were irresistible temptations and conversation delved into church issues and David's focus on the politics of the South China Sea. When we are 92, we want to be just like Auntie Joy - informed, inquisitive, and eager to delve.

After a wonderful tour of Barry's figueroa trees and garden, we headed to Blenheim via a stop at the Pelurus Bridge - to check out the swimmers, the Mussel Pot for lunch and the Queen Charlotte Sound Drive. Almost at the top, we stopped and scrambled up trails to a lookout over the Sound...spectacular! Back in the car and off to Blenheim via Picton. Stopping at an outlook, we had a wonderful view of logs - lots of them - being loaded at the port. It was a scene to delight the 'two year old boy' in all of us.

In the evening, Cecil and Nancy joined us for a barbecue at our B&B. We took full advantage of being in Marlborough country!