Easter in Elie Bay, Marlborough Sounds

On Good Friday, we headed out of Nelson to Elaine Bay where we left the car and set off in our yellow kayak to our first campsite...

And this was our view when we woke the next morning...

After a good long paddle on Saturday, we decided to camp on a random beach and pitched our tent among the reeds (no long drop here). We made a fire on the beach in the evening and enjoyed a tasty fish that Chris caught while kayaking.

Easter Sunday was like the doldrums - the Sounds were still and it was incredibly calm and quiet. We saw some penguins and sting rays, but otherwise it was like we were cruising on oil. We arrived at Ali and Malcolm's bach around lunch time - no electricity, but running water and a long drop in the trees. Very much at one with nature still, but at least with a solid roof over our heads and not having to squeeze into the tent. The main building is a bedsit (bedroom, kitchen and lounge in one) and the second building has beds and a rowing boat behind the gate (not a pony!). The third building was a garage and storage area.

Chris perfected the art of heating the bath - build a fire a good few hours before you want to use it otherwise you burn your behind! Very romantic watching the stars with a mug of wine (Chris made sure we had a few litres packed for our week away)!

We enjoyed fishing daily and collected green lipped mussels from the mussel beds in Elie Bay - export quality for free! The water is so clear that you can see the mussel chains stretching well below (visibility to about 6 metres).

We had a few walks and I was in my element with all the ferns about! Some of them are simply massive - as tall as the pine trees in the forests behind.

This is my best photo of a frond, taken in Ali and Malc's garden - simply transixing!

Elie Bay from a distance - we had magnificent weather all week until we were due to leave and had to delay our return for a day as we waited for the winds to subside. Made it back to Elaine Bay and the car in just under 4 hours (30kms or so). What a wonderful week and it didn't cost us a cent, which was a bonus! We had some good chats about our friends and family and how much we miss them. Although we are living the good life for sure, we do miss those dear (and now not so near) to us. There is a definite void in our lives...