#101 NOW April 16, 2006 16:05UTC +12 hours (New Zealand Standard Time) Anchored in Homestead Bay S4055.6 E17357.8 Temp 65 degrees, Wind Gusty Greetings, Wow! So much has happened in the last couple of days. I left Ngawhakawhiti Bay, once again passing through Worlds End Passage without incident. With a brief stop at Penzance dock to top off the water tanks, I worked my way deep into Marlborough Sounds. Turning down Popoure Reach and then into Chance Bay, I found a wonderful anchorage that was miles form the ocean and very well protected. With a high-pressure system over the area, I enjoyed some gorgeous weather and calm conditions, which allowed for a good nights sleep. The next morning I continued further down into Kenepuru Sound. Along the way, I passed an airstrip (?) I have seen lots of challenging airstrips, but this has to be beyond challenging. Your approach is right over the water directly into a mountainside that goes up at an unbelievable angle. If you come into too high you are dead as there is no chance for a go-around. To top that off about half way up the strip are some power lines that go directly across the middle at about 150 feet. Of course if you are that high you dont have a chance anyway. Taking off is just the opposite. I took a picture of it so watch for it later on. It is truly amazing! As Done Dreamin' approached Portage, a small settlement with a little marina, I was being watched with great interest by Rainer and his wife Claudia. It seems that Rainer has been dreaming about Nordhavns for some time. By the time I reached the dock, he was there to grab my lines. I was surprised to find someone with such knowledge of the Nordhavn 40. He obviously had been doing his research. I of course gave him a tour and we spend some time discussing the pros and cons of various Nordhavns. Later that evening, he came by with some flounder that his wife had breaded and made ready to drop in the frying pan. They also invited me to dinner the next evening. We set up the times, which included a little run in Done Dreamin' during the afternoon. I think they really enjoyed the boat, and the venison dinner was first rate. It was nice to enjoy an evening with some like-minded cruising friends. I noticed he had the latest edition of Circumnavigator magazine on his coffee table. We are making plans to do some cruising together in the next couple of weeks. I have a feeling that one day they will be proud Nordhavn owners. Today, with an ebbing tide, I worked my way out the maze of inlets and passages to the entrance of Pelorus Sound, anchoring in Homestead Bay. As soon as the weather settles down a little, I plan to head up past Stephens Island and explore remote DUrville Island. Rainer and Claudia, who have been cruising this area for many years, gave me some great suggestions of areas to visit. I smell fresh bread baking, so will bring this to a close. Once again, I would like to thank everyone for their letters and words of encouragement. I hope that I have brought you some perspective of the cruising life and a little vicarious enjoyment. Life is a Cruise, Larry -- Larry Rick Done Dreamin' Nordhavn 40 #33 Site: http://gricknet.homedns.org/Dads%20Web/doneDreamnHome.htm http://www.portage.co.nz/Splash http://www.onenz.co.nz/tourism/10/B/Index.htm