Tuesday was get-out-of-Dodge-City day – we left Blenheim for “the Sounds”. The Marlborough Sounds. Pelorous sound to be specific. With a stop for lunch at Pelorous Bridge, we eventually wound our way into Okiwi Bay and then over another hill to Elaine Bay. Just in time for it to rain. After a bit the wind got up. The wind made for an interesting night – waiting for the next gust to hit. We could hear the wind coming and wondered what this one might do. There was a story about a motorhome being blown over here earlier this year – we wished we hadn’t heard about that!
Yesterday we sat around waiting for the wind to settle down. It was fun for a while watching the patterns of the wind on the water. It seemed to come from three different directions, plus straight down sometimes. After lunch a gust from the side rocked Suzi on her suspension with some force and we wondered what the next one might do. We decided not to wait around and quickly packed up and headed back over the hill to Okiwi Bay. It was calm there. Maybe it was calm by then back at Elaine Bay but we weren’t taking any chances.
Today (Thursday) started out lovely and calm at Okiwi Bay. It was nice to see the sun. After breakfast we came back over the hill to Elaine Bay. By then the sun had gone and soon it was raining and the wind was blowing. Hmmmmm. Later the wind dropped and the rain stopped long enough for a walk around to the next bay – through some lovely beech forest. And so far it hasn’t rained since.
Gallery of photos – Back to the Marlborough Sounds December 2012
Click on thumbnails to see full size. (And then you can click through them)