A Happy New Year to all of our readers and I trust 2017 will be good for you all.
It was cloudy and windy when we awoke and as we wanted plenty of time to negotiate the fairly tricky drive over the Rimutaka mountain range to Wellington and the ferry port we had a quick breakfast and were on our way by 07:00.
It certainly was a tricky drive with gale force winds and torrential rain! There is a very long and windy climb up to the pass but luckily driving on the left we were away from the precipitous side. The descent was windy to start with but soon straightened out into a smooth gradual decent. In spite of the carefully slow journey we were in plenty of time to catch the ferry.
The LLW was very keen on a flat white and a cake so much so that when she found we were in the lane to the ferry parking she demanded that Ray execute a three point turn (yes in a camper van!). For many reasons, not excluding the fact that it was a 4 metre wide one way system (the camper van is 7.5 metres long!), Ray ignored this and parked in the queue. Marital harmony was restored when the LLW discovered that there was a cafe in the terminal building and soon coffee and cakes were procured.
The ferry is apparently fully booked and unusually left about 15 minutes before the due departure time; I assume the captain was happy that all passengers were on board. Since it was busy we decided to upgrade to the premier lounge which is very pleasant and has an adequate supply of coffee magazines and other LLW essentials.
They promised us a fairly rough crossing with gale force winds and it is certainly that. We were lulled into a false sense of security by the first 45 minutes where the ferry is in the lee of the North Island. However, once into the Cook Strait proper we experienced some real southern ocean waves. In about 30 minutes we will reach the shelter of Marlborough Sounds and life should stabilise.
We have now arrived in Blenheim a very short drive from the port of Picton and given the weather in the Cook Strait, the ferry journey was pretty good. The sun is out, its 25C and we are about to unleash the bikes!
We cycled around the very quiet town and it was clear that no restaurant of note was opening this evening. However, the dynamic duo sort out a New World supermarket and food was procured to ensure survival. The LLW once again conjured up a feast and we enjoyed this in the warmth of the evening in a classic crepuscular light ( I thought Sarah might enjoy that!).
Off to Nelson via the vineyards tomorrow.
It was cloudy and windy when we awoke and as we wanted plenty of time to negotiate the fairly tricky drive over the Rimutaka mountain range to Wellington and the ferry port we had a quick breakfast and were on our way by 07:00.
It certainly was a tricky drive with gale force winds and torrential rain! There is a very long and windy climb up to the pass but luckily driving on the left we were away from the precipitous side. The descent was windy to start with but soon straightened out into a smooth gradual decent. In spite of the carefully slow journey we were in plenty of time to catch the ferry.
The LLW was very keen on a flat white and a cake so much so that when she found we were in the lane to the ferry parking she demanded that Ray execute a three point turn (yes in a camper van!). For many reasons, not excluding the fact that it was a 4 metre wide one way system (the camper van is 7.5 metres long!), Ray ignored this and parked in the queue. Marital harmony was restored when the LLW discovered that there was a cafe in the terminal building and soon coffee and cakes were procured.
The ferry is apparently fully booked and unusually left about 15 minutes before the due departure time; I assume the captain was happy that all passengers were on board. Since it was busy we decided to upgrade to the premier lounge which is very pleasant and has an adequate supply of coffee magazines and other LLW essentials.
They promised us a fairly rough crossing with gale force winds and it is certainly that. We were lulled into a false sense of security by the first 45 minutes where the ferry is in the lee of the North Island. However, once into the Cook Strait proper we experienced some real southern ocean waves. In about 30 minutes we will reach the shelter of Marlborough Sounds and life should stabilise.
We have now arrived in Blenheim a very short drive from the port of Picton and given the weather in the Cook Strait, the ferry journey was pretty good. The sun is out, its 25C and we are about to unleash the bikes!
We cycled around the very quiet town and it was clear that no restaurant of note was opening this evening. However, the dynamic duo sort out a New World supermarket and food was procured to ensure survival. The LLW once again conjured up a feast and we enjoyed this in the warmth of the evening in a classic crepuscular light ( I thought Sarah might enjoy that!).
Off to Nelson via the vineyards tomorrow.
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