Wellington to Picton to Nelson, NZ: Tuesday June 17, 2004

We set the alarm for earlier than usual as we needed to check-in at the ferry terminal at 7:00. However the ferry left half an hour late as the loading process of trucks took longer than planned.  We watched these big double trailer semis load onto the ferry – some of them drove on and others backed on – what a skill to be able to back a double trailer into a narrow spot on the ferry.  But finally at 8:30 we set off for Picton, South Island, New Zealand.  There were very few passengers on this morning’s sailing. Due to our late start we arrived at Picton at 12:00 noon.

Our Ferry Ship across the Strait between Islands

Leaving Harbour

Threatening Weather leaving Wellington

Approaching the South Island

Picton Ahead

Our Ship in Harbour

Picton

At PIcton we picked up another car rental and set off driving on the scenic route to the town of Nelson. We were told it was a curvy road, but after driving the Pacific Coast road we thought it would be no problem! Well it was no problem, but this stretch of road has the tightest curves we have ever driven!  It was a beautiful scenic drive along Queen Charlotte Sound and we were glad we went this way.  In the village of Havelock, known as the ‘green lip mussel’ capital of the world, we stopped and shared a kilo of green lips for lunch.  The setting was lovely as well as the mussels. 

New Zealand Timber Ready to Ship

Slip Inn in Havelock

Green Lipped Mussels at the Slip Inn

Dinner on the Havelock Harbour 

Church in Havelock

One-Laned Bridge

We continued on to Nelson, arriving at our friends after 4:00. It was great to see them again.  Cal & the husband of our friends went off to a Rotary meeting, where Cal was the program. We gals went to their daughters for tea and dinner.  The daughter and her now husband, are the ones who came to Iowa and rode on RAGBRAI with us in 1997.  The kids now have a cute little girl. We will be doing things with them around Nelson and this part of NZ for the next two days.