[password] pilot25041
[position] 35 49.86s 174 28.44e
[status] Monday 22nd October and now mid afternoon, the big news today is we made it to Marsden Cove marina just after 11am, so we are legally back in NZ waters and territory. The Biosecurity and Customs procedures were done very sensibly and professionally a welcome reprieve from some of our 'island formality' experiences, although we think we helped ourselves by having the boat cleaned and prepped ready for their visits.

Since yesterday's blog, we have relaxed and motored through glassy seas all day, seeing occasional sharks and dolphins, a spectacular sunset last night was a fitting end to the day, and another fabulous sunrise this morning was a great start to the end of our voyage and final leg, it was then so warm by mid morning that we were back to Tongan island attire as we sat on deck and watched the world go by!

Dirk & Claire drove up to Marsden Cove to take Ron & Anihera home, so as the cupboards are all fairly bare, given that everything perishable was eaten, tossed overboard or confiscated (not much) by Biosecurity, we all went ashore for a leisurely lunch. Later after Claire had had a look around the boat, the 3 boys left on board departed Marsden Cove, and as its fairly late we are just going out to the Hen & Chickens overnight, before heading to Gulf Harbour tomorrow ready for Surreal to be lifted out of the water on Wednesday afternoon.

This is the final 'blog' of our times and experiences on our fabulous travels and adventures around the South Pacific, we have seen some extraordinary things and met some very interesting people during the last 6months as have all our variousp 'crew members' who have assisted in getting Surreal around 'the circuit'. For her part Surreal has looked after us all well, okay she's a bit boisterous and noisy at sometimes when the going gets tough and she's thrown up a number of technical challenges to keep Barry on his toes, but all in all she is in very good shape given the 8000 or so nm we've covered on our voyage!

Thanks for showing interest in our blogs and posting the many comments ........ from Surreal II over & out!!

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