Rod took us out on his 
boat to explore the islands off the Algie's Bay area, Sailed to a country house on an island that was in the care of DoC - Rod actually used to service the TVs etc back in the 70s and 80s when the place was a hotel (the first governer of NZ used to own and live there, and created sort of an arboretum, and had a cart pulled by zebras to get him around.
Back to the boat and a slight mishap with the tide as it seemed to have disappeared a little more than expected, though if it wasn't for the unexpected pause, I wouldn't have been able to go fishing to retrieve my swimming shorts which mysteriously jumped overboard, and I had to climb the mast to spot them resting on the seafloor!Enjoyed the annual Christmas party BBQ with classic NZ lamb, beers
and wines, as well as deserts.Said goodbye to our van that had been so loyal to us, ten minutes before leaving to meet the people we'd just sold it to, it wouldn't start, and needed two emergency jumpstart batteries to get it going (it had poured with rain the night before and the electrics were wet). Was a great van, even made a nice little profit on it, but next time, think we'll get something a bit larger (or alternatively win the lottery and stay in hotels).
And then a day that you dream about... flying 
a plane and then going fishing! Rod took us up for a fly-about in the aero club plane. Flying in the Cessna Skyhawk II is fun...a 4 seater high wing single engined prop, with fabulous all round visability. I sat in the co-pilot's seat, and Rod talked me through the controls, and let me practice taxiing (much to the undoubted bemusement of 
onlookers who had come to visit the airfield, as i swerved around the runway), and practice some basic manouers in the air. I loved every moment. We flew over the farm, over the islands where we sailed the previous days, and over various marine parks etc. Safe landings... and i must learn to fly one of these days.And that's not all... Chris, Rod's son arrived in the eveining with Gloria and his boat, a ridgid inflatable with a pretty powerful outboard, and asked if i'd like to join them for an evenings fishing... how could one refuse such an offer?
Fishing in my previous experiences has
been that of sitting with a line for hours and waiting.... well, the moment we arrived at the fishing sopt, Gloria cast her rod, and no exaguration, caught a fish literally immediately - a good sized snapper. It wasn't long before i hooked my first ever fish, and what a fish and effort to bring him in, a huge snapper too, I was exhausted and pumped through of adrenalyin after, i had to have a beer. Alltogether i caught four beautiful snappers which we enjoyed for dinner and breakfast the following days. Magic. And yes, i had to do the cheesy picture holding the fish.Farewells to Rod and Rosie, hopefully we'll be able to visit next year at the end of our round the world trip... see some more pics here.
Now onward to a new continent!
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