Heading South

Wed Jan 6 Wellington to Nelson:


Up at 1:30 am to catch the 3am ferry to Picton on the South Island. (Later ferries all booked by the time I reserved the place for our car in December on the internet.) I couldn’t find the switch to turn off the head lights when boarding the ferry in the Volvo. Attendants said ‘no worries’( and thought silly foreigner.) Girls went back to sleep for a couple hours on the ferry, and watched a movie about chimps in space.

Beautiful views of the sounds as the sun rose on our approach to Picton. Breakfast in Picton at the café—pancakes, eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes. (Standard English fare)

Drive from Picton to Havelock on Queen Charlotte Drive, Laura trying her hand at left-hand driving for the first time—great views of inlets and hills, winding around, about 25 MPH (40 KPH) most of the way. Stopped for lunch at Pelorus Bridge, and walked in the woods filled with ferns of ALL sizes with the girls for a picnic.

 Then I put my bike together and set off on my first Kiwi Brevet reconnaissance ride from Pelorus Bridge to Nelson on the Maungatapu track. This is a dirt/gravel road that goes over the ridge, rather than around it. About 25 miles in all. For me and my bike, it was a bit over 5 hours of riding (and walking). Pushing the bike for the last couple miles up an insanely steep rocky dirt/gravel track to get to the top was tough, but perhaps satisfying. Having to walk down the other side because the grade was too steep to control the bike was just frustrating. Almost enough to make me reconsider my brake/tire/bike choice for this adventure next month. If it’s raining or even damp when I ride this route in Feb, there will be a LOT more walking.

 The infamous history for this particular hill involves 4 murdered men, and the manhunt/interrogation to bring punishment to a few who were convicted of the crime. 

Here's the faces of the 3 who were hanged for it, preserved in the Nelson Museum.

Met the girls at the B&B in Nelson for dinner. They’d continued to walk at Pelorus Bridge Reserve and climbed to two waterfalls where they made fairy houses in the ‘enchanted forest.’ The B&B owner has 2 kids 8 and 9, and they had a great time playing with our Claire and Eleanor during our stay.