PICNIC IN THE SOUNDS

Well, the holiday and nice weather continues, a beautiful morning after a peaceful night spent secure on the mooring.  After breakfast Steven and I took Truce around to Picton to pick up Richard and Doris.  Once onboard we headed up Queen Charlotte Sound to find a suitable stopping off spot for lunch.

After a few miles we turned into Ruakaka Bay and found a lunchtime anchorage off a beach at Ratimera Bay.  Ashore there were picnic tables, campsite and toilets – this place is so well organised.

Steven was brave enough to have a swim and went ashore.  The water was too cold for the rest of us.  The water has to be almost tepid before I will venture in.

Doris had made up some delicious lunch for us.  Delightful, sitting in the cockpit in lovely weather, sipping wine, eating lunch with a beautiful scenic backdrop.  After lunch we just lazed about, chatted and drank more wine.

Too soon it was time to get going.  I didn’t want to be late getting back to Picton as Ngozi was arriving on the Interisland Ferry in the early evening.  On the way back to Picton we even managed a little sail with the yankee, it only lasted a few minutes.

Once Richard and Doris were dropped off in Picton Steven and I returned to the mooring in Waikawa.  Richard arrived a short time later with the car to take us back to their apartment in Picton.

All in good time, Steven and I walked down to the ferry terminal to meet Ngozi.  In the evening we dined in Richards apartment and stayed the night.  Different being in a fluffy soft double bed with no rocking and rolling, anchor rumbling or the myriad boat sounds.