Whilst in Auckland, and after Becky had been in touch with our South Island contact, we found that there were no connections from Picton to Christchurch at that time of day and that we would be stuck in Picton, which I pictured as a small one horse type of town, for a night with nowhere to go and nothing to do until the next morning when it connected with the outside world again. So, from our hotel in Auckland we were able to change our booking and get ourselves onto the early Ferry which then connected at Picton with the 1.00 Scenic Railway train to Christchurch. Surely, we couldn't be so unlucky that the Ferry would be cancelled and we would have to go by submarine or some other mode of transport where we would not be able to see this beautiful scenery that had been foretold! Or unlucky enough that the train would blow up and we would have to go by bus again!
The taxi arrived and took us to the Ferry Port and we were able to check in and deposit our luggage which would go straight through to Christchurch as we were booked on the train - ideal, no bags to lug from the boat to the train, things are looking up! The Ferry looks big enough for me to be able to manage three hours as long as the weather holds and there's no rough water, not quite the Plymouth to Roscoff Ferry, but it'll do! We board and find a nice spot to sit while the vehicles are still loading and it's still quiet, but by the time we sail and go upstairs and out on deck, everyone else is there and we can barely see land to say farewell to Wellington. I suppose as we hadn't seen much of it already, there was hardly any point in seeing it now!
The sea is so calm, it's not really sea, it's just flatter than any flat sea I've ever seen before and the sun is shining so it really is a beautiful crossing. As we stood on deck leaving Wellington and I looked at the map of our journey, I worked out that there were pretty much three parts to it - part one, the first hour, was going around the headland of Wellington and finally reaching the relatively small piece of open water between the two islands; part b, the second hour, was the open bit of sea called Cook Straight where if I was going to be feeling ill, it would be that bit; and part iii, the final hour, where we pass through the channel between the many islands to get to Picton - should be fun, and I wasn't disappointed.
As we sailed through the amazing scenery with the crystal clear blue waters and the lush green islands, a few small sailing boats meandered their way through and it really did look like Paradise, if only we hadn't been on a big tug surrounded by irritating people, quite a few of whom were smoking and, because we were standing at the rear, the smoke from the funnel was just annoying us because we were outside! Still you needed to be outside to see these views and it really was stunning. At one point, four rich boys with the jet skis came up behind the Ferry to take advantage of the small waves being made, and gave a show as they raced back and forth past the boat. Before long, the last hour was gone and we were coming into very scenic Picton on a lovely sunny day - in fact one of the best days we've had so far! After docking, we emerge onto dry land, not having to worry about our luggage, and we follow signs to the Railway.
When we get there, we join what seems to be a queue until some loud American comes up behind us and asks if this is the queue and goes through the office and announces from the other side that it is not the queue, the queue is over there and promptly joins it and leaves us to bring up the rear! Still, we check in and the good news is there's no alternative, the train is a train and we can go and get some lunch and be back for the train at 12.45 to board! We wander off and Picton really doesn't look like quite the one horse town I imagined it would be but more an upmarket Marina with lots of yachts in and a couple of hotels so maybe we could've stayed! Becky spies a pole that looks like her Pole Dancing Poles and wants to give it a go for a 'photo opportunity' for her group back home but unfortunately it's connected to a children's play area and specifically a pirate ship play area. She removes additional items: bag, sunglasses etc, and goes in for the pose after some random children have moved out of the way. I'm ready with the camera (trying not to snigger too loudly) and start taking photos. On the first jump, there's a clonk and an 'ow' as she jumps and misses, and I ask if she's ok to which she says "yes, I think so" and she tries again and successfully strikes a pose. It's only as we walk away that I notice she's limping slightly and I ask if she's ok again, to which she replies "I think so, I just banged my toe on the pirate ship!" Sounds good! " I hope it's not broken"!
We go for some lunch from Subway and share 12 inches which sounds a lot worse than it is - I've not had Subway before and it's just a foot long bread stick filled with whatever you want and today's special is Morrocan Lamb which we opt for with all the salad bits - it's very yummy with the minty yoghurt dressing and we debate whether to go back for another before departure, but decide that's not the best idea and so get ready to board the train as everyone queues to get on. I notice the luggage going into the rear of the train and feel the need to go check ours is there and the nice man, after talking to us about Coronation Steeet for a short while, allows us in to check which I do and can see three out of four and decide that's pretty good odds!
By the time we've chatted to this man for a while and can finally get away, the train is loaded, queues gone and we can get straight on and head for our seats which are the only vacant ones - it seems the train is full! We sit down and engage in conversation with the nice couple opposite who are on holiday from south Australia and ask us about our trip so we give them all the details along with the story of the trip down on the trus the day before and they seem happy and amused by the tale. As the train gets going, there is very little to see, the scenic bit hasn't started yet apparently! Passing by the salt beds, it is amazing to see that they're red and our commentary tells us its because it contains the same algae as in the red sea! Very pretty though!
It's not long and the views start to improve and then before long we're heading along the coast where, on a good day, you might be lucky enough to see all sorts of wildlife out to sea, especially whales, - but not today. However, the coastline is amazing and we get a few photos, then I decide to go outside on the viewing platform to get a couple of pictures and find its so windy that every individual hair on my head is tied up in knots with its nearest neighbours and some not so near - I can barely get my fingers through my hair when I get back inside!
By halfway, we decide on a coffee which I go and get and just about manage to do it without falling over, and sit back down to eat some cookies which we'd bought for yesterday's train journey that didn't happen. Then we see some seals on the rocks along the coastline, which is lovely but we're going too fast to get photos and also were drinking coffee and eating cookies and we only see them because the man doing the commentary informs us they're there!
There's plenty more scenery but we just want to get there by now, and when we eventually arrive, and get off to get our luggage, it is so nice to see a familiar face in the waiting room where Mike is sat waiting for us. We finally get our bags and they're all there, it's all looking good, and Mike takes us out to his car telling us how excited he is to see us - things must be bad in New Zealand! The station is temporary as the main one was damaged in the earthquake, but as we leave Christchurch, we don't really see much evidence so the damage as we're on the outskirts and leaving town to where Mike lives, about an hour away in a small skiing resort called Methven. It's about an hour away but we soon get there and the roads are so long and straight and find Mike has booked us into a Motel just up the road from his place, to give us a bit of space, what a lovely man.
We arrange to have a freshen up, which for Becky involves coffee, and fortunately there's a kitchen and coffee so that's sorted. There's two bedrooms so Becky's pleased to get a bit of peace and so am I. We arrange to walk just down the road to Mike's as he's prepared dinner for us and got wine in, ideal. As we walk down a very wide, quiet road wondering if we've missed his place, we see him in the distance reversing out of his drive and think 'ahh, he's coming to meet us,' but no, he stops and shouts out the window that he's just going to the shop and to let ourselves in - its not locked! We're not in the UK now!
He soon returns, having suddenly thought we might like 'starters' he had rushed to the local store and got some melon for us! So we catch up, have a lovely home cooked meal and a nice drop of wine and before we know it, it's bedtime as we both feel very tired after all the travelling and Mike kindly gives us a lift up the road, even though its not far, it seems you don't walk anywhere here if you can drive!
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