Here’s to 37 fab days in the south island.
The ferry is leaving Picton at 10:45 and check-in is at 10:00 soI figured that, to be on the safe side, I should leave the camping at 8:00. This meant getting up before dawn and starting to pack. Well it was cold and wet and the tent was wet too, folding the whole thing up was a pain and my hand were well frozen bt the end of it all.
All that said I was on the saddle by 8:00 but the cold feeling meant that when I saw a bakery next to the road just outside Blenheim I could not resist and I warmed myself up with a double espresso and a large slice of carrot cake.
Filled with all that there was no more time to waste and I was on the way to Picton.
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The road to Picton was easy with only a small climb at the very end but I was plagued by early morning fog and a police car overtaking me gave me enough paranoia to make wear the helmet all the way to the ferry.
Pretty soon I realised though that I had plenty of time and I would make the check-in time with ease and it was not a problem to stop for a shot or two.
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After I checked in and got the relevant instruction I had 15 minutes spares and I thought it might be a good idea to address the problem I had stored for myself in the morning, namely packing the tent wet. Naturally a wet tent does not just keep its wetness for itself so it ended up that the drying line was longer than I expected.
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I folded all up, all dry in 20 minutes and proceeded to board the ferry, this time I was the only cyclist going north but I had a whole train for company rather than cars and trucks.
The ferry ride was much better than on the way down and I took a few pictures, but most of all just sut on the top deck getting cuddled by the warm sun of the early autumn.
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So it is now north island again and for a month and a half. By my calculations I should have another 28 day of cycling 5 days of sailing and 11 days of rest before I leave New Zealand. Let’s hope the weather stays with me a little longer.