Another travel day, but what a glorious sea- and land-scape to view. The ferry from Wellington is a HUGE boat, holding 800 cars plus people who walk on — we were greeted on deck 7 like we were coming onto a cruise ship. The trip goes across the Cook Straight, which is 22 km across at it’s narrowest point, and then into the Tory Channel to Picton. And we’ve gone no further north or south when we get there. The seas were mild, but it was incredibly windy, a trait of the channel. There’s one story of a kayaker that paddled all day and ended up right where he started! It was a beautiful voyage, with lots of volcanic islands throughout the channel, and some sailboats highlighted against the blue water and green hills.
Once it Picton it was a 5 minute walk to the train station, for another scenic rail trip from there to Christchurch. (The ferry and train companies have this down to a science — I was able to check my bag in at the ferry and they transferred it to the train, so I ddin’t have to collect it until I got to Christchurch). The train route ran along the eastern coast of the Southern Island, past the rocky coast dotted with fur seals, and the gray sand beaches, colored from pulverized rock from the hills of the island. Much of the northern part of the South Island was brown; the hillsides covered with grazing sheep. The brown is from the hot winds that blow through the area. The further south we went, it began to look more green, more like the colors of the North Island. It also got gray and chilly after the sun and heat of the morning. The weather here is very changeable, odd considering the size of the geography.
I hitched a ride with 3 women from the train who were headed my way, and then found a grocery store and picked up some snacks for dinner tonight and breakfast tomorrow — I’m a bit fed up with dining alone, so it wa good to have a night in with a movie and the help desk for this blog! I’ve been having some issues with logging in two nights running, and now the chat desk knows me well!
I meet up with my group tomorrow for the next 2 weeks. It will be nice to have the all plans organized for me after 10 days of handling them all myself. Hopefully there will continue to be wifi!
You go on holiday (see, I’m speaking with the NZ accent now…) and I learn all about the locations. It’s so helpful…
Glad to hear you are having fun – hope the weather holds for your two week excursion. You’ve missed rain and clouds here in LA…
3 interesting sites to see in Christchurch according to Outside magazine (Jan. 2016): (1) Shigeru Ban’s Cardboard Cathedral – really made out of paper, like NZ’s version of largest ball of twine? (2) Re:start, an architecturally striking mall made from repurposed shipping containers featuring local food & designers and (3) the restaurant C1 Espresso, where you can get Southern Fried Chicken delivered to you via pneumatic tube – like a bank drive through! I have a feeling you’re doing something much cooler.
Gobsmacked about the size of that boat!!! And thankful that you posted that map. Although even THAT looks like it was imagined by J.R.R.! It does make me imagine with awe the colonists and adventurers who first took these routes. Hardy souls. Dying to hear about your group! Praying to the gods of internet for you!