18 December 2024 -New Zealand- South Island -Franz Joseph

We had a bit of a lie in and a lazy breakfast. The weather looked quite good and was sunny and cloudy. We had a coffee out and bumped into the couple who sat opposite us in the Trans Alpine Train so we had another good chat and we invited them to join us for supper.

We did some washing and walked around the town and then had a massage which was good. We had a quick snack and then headed out toward the glacier and a car park where there were a number of walks. There is a constant sound of helicopters who are taking people up in the air to view the glacier and some you get off and walk on it.

We drove to the car park and passed the large riverbed which holds the water flowing down from the mountains above.

We walked up to a viewpoint from which we could see the glacier high above – see the picture of the day. Apparently the glacier reached that viewpoint in 1908 and it has retreated since. It was lovely walking in the mountain air and breathing that clear air. The path used to carry on bit you are now no longer able to continue closer to the glacier.

After our walks we drove around admiring the views and went back to Lake Mapourika which was pretty and we took some nice pictures.

We returned to FJ and had some tea and enjoyed the sun before we had dinner with Alan and Sandra who we had met on the train. They kindly gave me a Māori shaped jade gift of sort of hook which means good luck and safe journey over water which I will hand at the navigation station when I get back on board.

We plan to do some more walks tomorrow.

Stormbird

I heard from my surveyor overnight that he was happy with what was proposed provided they kept pictures of the works and an explanation of what they did. I also heard from the retired yardman who said what he had seen looked good and that he was happy with what was proposed. I therefore informed the yard and they will proceed to finish the repairs and plan to put her in the water tomorrow about 11.30am and will check all is ok. I checked this was ok with the skipper I hired and that he knew what needed to be checked. They propose to take Stormbird assuming all is ok to Orams Marina which is where we were for a few days when we came to Auckland.

If this works in 5 days I have had the damage assessed, approved and completed in the original timeframe for launch and hopefully the rudder will be stronger and there will be no leak. I have been lucky in what is a very busy time of the year before Christmas.   

Opportunity Year Two

In year two I will be going from New Zealand in early January 2025 across to Sydney and up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and then through Bali, Singapore and on to Thailand to end year two about the end of November 2025. I will need some more crew.

If there is any interest do email me at  hine.nick9@gmail.com  

The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com