Onwards to South Island, followed by ... … A Very Grey Day – especially for Mr Jingles

Monday 8th & Tuesday 9th January 2007

The following morning, Mon-08-Jan, we’re up early to catch the Interislander ferry that is due to sail for Picton, South Island, at 10:35am; we need to be at the Wellington-based terminal an hour earlier to check-in.

So Beverley and Warren, our host and the hostess with the mostess, prepare breakfast for 08:15am, thereby allowing us plenty of time to slip into “The Warehouse” – a huge chain of discount stores supplying nearly everything, except perhaps mainline groceries – which luckily for us is located bang-on our short route across town to the ferry terminal. This is good because we still need to buy some webbing strap tie-downs in order to secure the bike to the ferry’s deck. Warren assures us that The Warehouse stocks these items.

We soon say our farewells to Bev & Warren; then acquire the tie-downs from The Warehouse shortly after nine o’clock; and a couple of hours later …

… we’re also saying goodbye to North Island as we steam across the Cook Straight towards NZ’s South Island …

… with the T/A securely strapped down and showing off its brand new accessories

Before you can say, “Get to an onboard computer work station to update yer blog” our Interislander ferry is sweeping into Queen Charlotte Sound, South Island

Three hours after leaving Wellington, precisely on schedule, we’re disembarking from the ferry and take a right turn onto the Queen Charlotte Drive that will lead us towards the City of Nelson, our next planned stopover, located about 105 km (65 miles) to the west of Picton

The testing twisty ride along the very narrow QC Drive is spent mainly in lower gears. Some of the views along the way though are quite exceptional and reminds me very much of the Scottish Highlands

Just under halfway we stop to sample the local delicacy in the small seaside township of Havelock, which serves us up their speciality of two large pans of large green mussels, lightly steamed with some garlic, herbs and white wine. Mighty eating indeed!

We arrive in Nelson around 5:00pm and check into the first decent motel we come across, located no more than 3-4 minutes walk from the City centre. Ellen negotiates a forty-dollar discount with the managing proprietor; clearly business is not brisk so soon after the Christmas and New Year holidays?!

Tuesday January 9th

The following day, Tue-09-Jan is, as forecast, grey, overcast and raining. Weather depressions have set-in over the whole country and sadly whichever route and direction we chose out of Nelson we’re not gonna avoid the inevitable wet weather.

So we stick to the original plan to cut across country for 290 km (180 miles) in a broad south-westerly direction to our next intended stopover in Greymouth. The name befits the weather condition, that’s for sure!

But we make so much good progress, even despite the poor conditions, that our arrival in Greymouth around 1½ hours earlier than anticipated – during the mid rather than the late afternoon.

As Greymouth does indeed appear to be in nature as well as in name – sorta reminds me a lot of Hayle in Cornwall … ‘nuff said! – we decide to push on south and east for another 110 km (69 miles) and climb on up through to the main divide of the Southern Alps, the dramatic Arthur’s Pass, situated 921m above sea level.

We arrive at Arthur’s Pass around 5:10pm. The route leading up to the Pass is all too familiar to me, albeit we came by this way from the opposite direction just over a year ago.

Talk about déjà vû – and it was raining on that day too! – It’s all turning into a ‘Spot the Picture Difference’ competition.

The ‘Alpine Lodge’ at Arthur’s Pass was not one of our better choices of motel. We even discovered a little uninvited furry companion living under the fridge, who was partial to a bidda cheese, but not peanut butter, so the mousetrap ...

... and cunningly overturned mug (with mature cheddar therein) tells us after we return from our evening meal at the ‘Wobbly Kea Café & Bar’ situated about 800m back down the road towards the Tasman Sea, metaphorically speaking .. ;o)

But Grant’s (our host’s) little Jack Russell called ‘Oscar’ soon dealt with and despatched our tiny unwanted guest with one sharp snap of his canine jaws.

We then retire to bed; but sadly for Mr Jingles, he instead went to sleep up there in Rodent Heaven

It’s been a funny ol’ day – grey all round, but nevertheless with some good progress made. In fact, we covered 400 km (249 miles), which is our best day so far.