Kenepuru Sound

We're still in The Marlborough Sounds region, visiting Picton (where the inter island ferry ports) and Havelock, which are all are amazing and like a 1950's time warp. Beautifully maintained and spotlessly clean.
The mountains are enormous and covered in thick lush green forest (bush as they call it out here) and there continues to be a startling lack of people (and of course telephone connection & internet)!
Apologies to all the blip comments I have not responded to. The internet connections remain v limited and when there is one there are 3 of us who want it. However we had a wonderful moment in Picton where a telecom phone box advertised free wifi for a day, so we joined and to get emails etc and saw TJ was online. The connection was perfect and we had a quick catch up with Lisa and Rach. A touch of Ireland and friendship was lovely but limiting, especially in the middle of the street, however I'm still preferring to be here than there!
I visited The Edwin Fox museum which has the one of the oldest ships in the world in a dry dock. Amongst other things it was used as a convict ship from the UK to Australia and the conditions on board were shocking. The paying passengers had it tough too, a leaking 6 foot 3 inch square open fronted box was the steerage accommodation for a family of 2 adults and 4 children for the 10-12 week voyage. Many died of disease.
Stan the Van is top end luxury in comparision!